Lateralization of cerebral hemispheres in foreign language and working memory processing” (code 09.3.3.-LMT-K-712-22-0170).
Project duration - 2020-11-03-2021-04-30; Research supervisor - VU GMC Assoc. Dr. Ramunė Grikšienė; Student - VU GMC Master's student of the second year of the Neurobiology study programme Indrė Pretkelytė.
The project aims to assess the functional lateralization of human foreign language and working memory processing using a simple and easily accessible psychophysical method of functional lateralization assessment based on the half visual field paradigm.
Functional lateralisation of the brain is the distribution of various cognitive functions between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Determining the functional lateralisation of the human brain is important for scientific and clinical research and for some therapeutic approaches. The most reliable method for assessing functional lateralisation, functional magnetic resonance imaging, requires significant financial, human and time resources and is therefore not widely available. In this study, we aim to assess functional lateralization in human foreign language and working memory processing using an alternative, simple and readily available, psychophysical method of functional lateralization assessment based on the half visual field paradigm. The study is international in scope, using an identical methodology, and has been carried out in different countries around the world to assess foreign language functional lateralisation in different linguistic groups. In the Lithuanian study, in addition to language, we will also assess the lateralisation of working memory. In addition, to strengthen the reliability of the psychophysical data, we will conduct a parallel electrophysiological study in which an electroencephalogram will be recorded while people perform tasks. By correlating behavioural psychophysical data with the electrical activity of the human brain, we will be able to better assess the reliability of the paradigm.