Hemispheric Lateralization For Processing Emotional Stroop-Like Task Among Right And Non-Right Handers

Abstract

This study investigates the Stroop-like incongruency effect when emotional face and emotional words, are presented as paired stimuli in the form of image and word in the split and parallel visual fields to right-handed and non-right-handed individuals. It was hypothesized that the lateralization pattern and ability of visual perception would differ of a person in terms of their handedness. The sample comprised 80 right-handers and 69 non-right handers males of 17-25 years of age. Self-report 10-items questionnaire were administered to determining handedness. To access the incongruency effect reaction time and accuracy were measured based on Stroop-like task with the help of JAVA based program in which pair of stimuli presented for 180 milliseconds on the computer screen in the form of images (five emotional faces) and words (five emotional words) under experiment 40 trials (20 split visual field and 20 parallel visual field) in congruent and incongruent conditions. Results reveal that in both visual field presentations i.e. split visual field and parallel visual field, non-right handers were faster in reaction and greater accuracy compared to right-handers. So, the results demonstrated that non-right handers had a less incongruence effect in both types of stimuli words and images as compared to right-handers.