Early Visual Information Processing and Hemispheric Function Asymmetries : Perspective from Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience

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The present study aimed at exploring functions of the left and right cerebral hemispheres from the viewpoint of early visual information processing. The entire project was subdivided into four parts. First, effects of attenuating the magnocellular pathway were investigated. This included an fMRI investigation for processing of hierarchically organized visual patterns (Study1, presented at an international conference), a behavioral experiment about temporal frequency processing (Study 2, published at University Bulletin), and a behavioral experiment about characteristics of upper- and lower-visual fields (Study 3, submitted to an international journal). Second, hemispheric difference for processing of spatial relation was investigated. This included behavioral experiments manipulating spatial frequency content of the stimulus (Studies 4 and 5, published in domestic and international journals respectively), a behavioral experiment about coarse coding mechanism (Study 6, presented at an international conference), and an fMRI investigation for processing of different spatial relations (Study 7, presented in a domestic conference). Third, dynamic changes of cerebral functions through experience were investigated by fMRI, using Soroban experts as subjects. Finally, these research topics are now extended to issues of attention (Study 9, presented in a domestic conference) and object recognition (Study 10, presented in a domestic conference).