The Cerebral Hemispheres Cooperate to Perform Complex but Not Simple Tasks

In four experiments, we examined whether task complexity determines the degree to which a division of processing across the hemispheres (i.e., across-hemisphere processing) underlies performance when within- and across-hemisphere processing are equally possible. When task complexity was relatively low, performance in a midline condition (which allowed for either within- or across-hemispheric processing) resembled within-hemisphere performance (Exps. 1 & 2). However, when task complexity was high, performance in a midline condition (Exps. 1 & 2) and a lateralized condition (which also allowed for either within- or across-hemisphere processing) (Exp. 3), resembled across-hemisphere performance. Our results complement and extend prior work (e.g., Banich & Belger, 1990) by indicating that the degree to which interhemispheric cooperation underlies performance changes with the complexity of the task being performed. This finding suggests that the hemispheres couple or uncouple their processing as a function of task complexity.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Weissman, Daniel Howard

Contributors dc:contributor

• Banich, Marie T.

• Psychology, Psychobiology

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9953174

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/82299