Some Evidence for the Hemispheric Asymmetry Model of Lateral Eye Movements

Abstract

The relationship between lateral eye-movement patterns and visual spatial abilities was investigated for a sample of 94 right-handed junior high school boys and girls. Direction of gaze was recorded during reflection on a complex gross motor skill. Subjects were administered the Group Embedded Figures Test, the Kohs' Block Design Test, the Hidden Figures Test, the Hidden Patterns Test, the Closure and Perceptual Speed Tests. Apart from the Group Embedded Figures Test and the Hidden Figures Test, low but significant positive relationships between proportion of left lateral eye-movements and visual spatial test scores were found. If lateral eye-movements are indicators of differential hemispheric activation, people with right-hemisphere predominance are more successful in solving certain visual-perceptual problems than people with left-hemisphere predominance. Finally, it is proposed that in studying relationships between lateral direction of eye-movements and field-dependence/independence, a more fruitful approach would be to investigate how people differ in their problem-solving styles to cope with embedded-figures test material in addition to determination of the performance level.