These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Development of cerebral lateralisation for recognition of emotions in chimeric faces in children aged 5 to 11.
    Author: Workman L, Chilvers L, Yeomans H, Taylor S.
    Journal: Laterality; 2006 Nov; 11(6):493-507. PubMed ID: 16966239.
    Abstract:
    In contrast to research into the development of language laterality, there has been relatively little research into the development of lateralisation of emotional processing. If language lateralisation begins in childhood and is complete by puberty (Lenneberg, 1967) it seems reasonable that the lateralisation of the perception of emotions might also occur during this period. In this study a split field chimeric faces test using the six universal facial expressions proposed by Ekman and Friesen (1971), an emotion in the eyes test, and a situational cartoon test were administered to three groups of children aged 5/6, 7/8, and 10/11. No overall hemispace advantage was seen for the 5/6-year-old group, but by the age of 10/11 a clear left hemispace advantage (right hemisphere) was found for all six emotions. Such a pattern is comparable to a previous study that made use of adults on this task (Workman, Peters, & Taylor, 2000b). Moreover, a significant positive correlation between a child's ability to recognise emotions in cartoon situations and their left hemispatial advantage score was uncovered. Finally, a significant positive correlation between a child's ability to recognise emotions in the eyes of others and their left hemispatial advantage score was also uncovered. These findings are taken as evidence that there may be a relationship between the development of emotional processing in the right hemisphere and a child's emerging ability to perceive or attend to the emotional states of others. Results are discussed in relation to the child's development of a theory of mind.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]