DIFFERENT PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF LATERALIZED BRAIN DAMAGE

Conflicting evidence exists concerning the differential psychological effects of lateralized brain damage on the Wechsler scales. Consideration of various reasons for discrepant results led to the selection of the WAIS Vocabulary and Block Design subtests as the best measures of verbal and perceptual organization factors. Comparison of mean scores of these subtests in unilateral lesion (N = 85), bilateral lesion (N = 57), and control Ss (N = 95) of 2 experiments confirm hypothesized differences: right-hemisphere damage results in impaired visuoconstructive performance; left-hemisphere damage affects language abilities. The results could not be accounted for by variables such as age, education, and emotional disturbance, or localization, diagnosis, acuteness, and severity of brain disorder. (18 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.