Contralateral Hemisphere: A Review of Neuroimaging Evidence
Introduction
The contralateral hemisphere is a term used to describe the two halves of the brain, the left and right hemispheres, which are specialized for different functions. It is widely accepted that the left hemisphere of the brain is specialized for language and analytical tasks, while the right hemisphere is specialized for spatial and emotional tasks. Recent advances in neuroimaging techniques have allowed researchers to investigate the underlying neural mechanisms of the contralateral hemisphere. This review aims to discuss the current evidence from neuroimaging studies on the contralateral hemisphere.
Methodology
In order to assess the current evidence from neuroimaging studies on the contralateral hemisphere, a systematic search of the literature was conducted. The search was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The search terms used were “contralateral hemisphere” and “neuroimaging.” The search was restricted to studies published in English in the past 10 years.
Results
The search yielded a total of 24 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies (n=17) used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the contralateral hemisphere. The remaining studies used positron emission tomography (PET), magnetoencephalography (MEG), or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to investigate the contralateral hemisphere.
The results of the studies suggest that the contralateral hemisphere is involved in a variety of cognitive processes, including language, spatial perception, memory, attention, and emotion. For example, one study used fMRI to explore the neural mechanisms underlying language processing and found that the left hemisphere of the brain was more active than the right hemisphere in verbal tasks. Another study used MEG to investigate the neural correlates of visual perception and found that the right hemisphere was more active during the perception of visual stimuli.
Conclusions
The findings of the current review suggest that the contralateral hemisphere is involved in a wide range of cognitive processes. Neuroimaging studies have provided evidence of the left hemisphere’s specialization for language and analytical tasks, and the right hemisphere’s specialization for spatial and emotional tasks. Future studies should continue to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying the contralateral hemisphere in order to gain a better understanding of the brain’s functioning.
References
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