Speech and handedness: investigating brain asymmetry

My research explores the relationship between hemispheric speech lateralisation and handedness. Neuropsychologists have known for many years that these two functions are represented in a unique way in the human brain, and that being left or right handed is linked to the way the brain is organised to support speech and language. Using a relatively new methodology in cognitive neuroscience; functional Transcranial Doppler (fTCD) ultrasound, I have investigated the associations between these two functions. In this talk I will present the findings from a series of studies which look at the links between speech lateralisation and handedness in different populations, including a developmental group and a group with a neuro-developmental disorder; Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD). I will also present data from a new paradigm involving functional Transcranial Doppler imaging which aimed to quantify the hemispheric involvement in different motor control/handedness tasks.