Haskins Publications

Number	662
Year	1989
Drawer	12
Entry Date	11/15/1999
Authors	Gladstone, M. & Best, C. T., & Davidson, R.
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Publication	Developmental Psychology, 25 (2), 236-246.
url	http://www.haskins.yale.edu/Reprints/HL0662.pdf
Abstract	Dyslexia has been associated with left-hemisphere dysfunctions; however, recent studies also suggest interhemispheric difficulties. To test this, we assessed bimanual coordination in dyslexic and nondisabled boys using an Etch-a-Sketch-like task. Group performance was equivalent for parallel hand movements (both clockwise). However, the dyslexics showed significant impairments on mirror movements, particularly in their left hands, and often unknowingly reverted to parallel movements when visual feedback was removed. Although these difficulties generally suggest impaired interhemispheric coordination, specific mirror movement deficits have never before been observed in any population. We propose that deficient interhemispheric collaboration combined with anomalous ipsilateral manual control may account for the dyslexics' performance.
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