Lateral Task Segregation and the Task-Hemispheric Integrity Effect

Abstract

The task-hemispheric integrity effect refers to the high time-sharing efficiency obtained for the concurrent performance of a verbal and spatial task when the spatial task is displayed to the left of the operator's midline and is controlled by the left hand and the verbal components are located to the operator's right. Results of two experiments are reported, each designed to test the contribution of lateral display or control separation to the task-hemispheric integrity advantage. Reduction of display separation greatly reduced the effects associated with such hemispheric compatibility. Allocating both controls to the same hand eliminated these effects altogether. The constraints imposed by these data on the application of the task-hemispheric integrity principle of S-C-R compatibility are discussed.

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