Content uploaded by Bruce Eldine Morton
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Bruce Eldine Morton on Nov 08, 2017
Content may be subject to copyright.
Asymmetry questionnaire outcomes correlate with several
hemisphericity measures
Bruce E. Morton
*
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Hawaii, School of Medicine, 1960 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Accepted 3 February 2003
Abstract
The asymmetry questionnaire segregated subjects ðn¼143Þinto two groups. These were significantly correlated with similar
groups separated, not only by three new biophysical hemisphericity protocols (Dichotic Deafness Test, Phased Mirror Tracing, Best
Hand Test), but also by two preference-type measures (polarity questionnaire, preference questionnaire). Each of the 15 asymmetry
questionnaire statements was significantly correlated with the outcomes of these five laterality measures. This is the third ques-
tionnaire whose outcomes correlate with those of the new biophysical measures of hemisphericity.
Ó2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Keywords: Brain-asymmetry; Behavior; Dichotic-deafness; Cerebral-laterality; Mirror-tracing; Personality; Polarity
1. Introduction
Recently three biophysical methods for determining
brain hemisphericity have been reported: the Dichotic
Deafness Test (Morton, 2001), Phased Mirror Tracing
(Morton, 2003a), and the Best Hand Test (Morton,
2003b). It was shown that the laterality outcomes of each
of these methods were significantly correlated with those
of a new hemisphericity-type questionnaire, the polarity
questionnaire (Morton, 2002), and at lower levels with
ZenhausernÕs preference questionnaire (Morton, 2002;
Zenhausern, 1978). This provided an unusual opportu-
nity to seek other behavioral attributes associated with
right and left brain-orientation. To this end, many di-
chotomous personality trait statements were tested on
subjects whose laterality had already been determined by
the foregoing methods. The 15 statement asymmetry
questionnaire was compiled from the outcomes of these
studies.
Here, using 143 subjects, the asymmetry questionnaire
was evaluated by comparison of its laterality sorting with
the three biophysical methods and with the two hemi-
sphericity-type questionnaires. The outcomes indicated
that the asymmetry questionnaire indeed sorted subjects
into two groups that were significantly correlated with
similar pairs of groups segregated by the five other later-
ality measures. Furthermore, the asymmetry question-
naire added a new set of personality traits to those already
significantly correlated with hemisphericity subgroups.
2. Methods
2.1. Subjects
The subjects of this study were mainly academics and
support staff at the University of Hawaii at Manoa
ðn¼143Þ. They were between 20 and 75 years old (mean
age, 45:813:4 S.D. years) and of mixed ethnicity (77%
Caucasian). Seventy-three were male (mean age ¼49
years) and 70 were female (mean age ¼42 years). There
were 18 self-identified left-handers (12.6%). Most of the
subjects had taken part in earlier studies (Morton, 2001,
2002, 2003a, 2003b).
2.2. Asymmetry questionnaire
The asymmetry questionnaire was the final product of
seven successive approximations, beginning with a
Brain and Cognition 51 (2003) 372–374
www.elsevier.com/locate/b&c
*
Fax: 1-808-956-9498.
E-mail address: bemorton@hawaii.edu.
0278-2626/03/$ - see front matter Ó2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/S0278-2626(03)00040-X
questionnaire containing 100 initial dyadic statements.
Each set was individually answered by the same 50
subjects, the response assessed, and the questions modi-
fied to create the next set, which was again completed by
the same individuals, etc. The 15 statements retained
(Appendix A) were those most highly correlated with the
pre-established brain laterality of the test subjects, earlier
categorized by the Best Hand Test and the polarity
questionnaire. For cross-calibration, statements 10 and
15 derived from the polarity questionnaire were inserted.
The marking of even numbered questions on the left, and
odd numbered questions on the right resulted in 15
possible left brain-oriented answers. Subjects scoring less
than 6 were placed in the right brain-oriented group.
2.3. Other questionnaires
Subjects ðn¼143Þcompleted the polarity question-
naire and were separated into left or right brain-oriented
groups based upon their responses (Morton, 2002).
Subjects ðn¼135Þcompleted preference questionnaire
(Morton, 2002; Zenhausern, 1978) and were assessed for
overall left brain-right brain outcome and index.
2.4. Biophysical measures
The Dichotic Deafness Test utilized the ‘‘Tonal and
Speech Materials for Auditory Perceptual Assessment’’,
Disc 1.0 (1992), purchased from the Long Beach Research
Foundation was used to measure minor ear deafness of
115 pseudo-randomly selected subjects during simulta-
neous and 90 millisecond-separated presentations of
dichotic consonant–vowel syllables (Morton, 2001,
2002). Mirror tracings were produced by 131 subjects with
the aid of a Lafayette Instruments, Mirror-drawing ap-
paratus, Model 31010. Outcomes were phase-adjusted by
use of the Affective Laterality Test (Morton, 2003a). Best
Hand Test forms containing 20 horizontal lines for each
hand to bisect were completed by 142 subjects, measured,
phased, and scored according to Morton (2003b).
2.5. Statistics
Correlation analyses were conducted with the aid of
the Statistica 5.0 software package.
3. Results
The mean score of the asymmetry questionnaire when
completed by 143 subjects of mixed sex was
6:4S:E:M. Partial separation into four groups: male
and female, right and left-brain orientation (data not
shown) had occurred, similar to the polarity question-
naire (Morton, 2002). A major discontinuity in distri-
butions was visible between the left-brain oriented
scores of 5 and 6. This was used as the breakpoint de-
fining left and right brain orientation groups (right <6).
This resulted in the separation of 64 right brain-oriented
subjects (31 males, 33 females) and 79 left brain-oriented
subjects (42 males, 37 females).
Validity assessment outcomes of asymmetry ques-
tionnaire are shown in Table 1. Asymmetry question-
naire group assignments were significantly (p<:001)
correlated with three independent biophysical laterality
measures: the Dichotic Deafness Test, ðr¼:44;n¼115Þ,
Phased Mirror Tracing, ðr¼:66;n¼131Þ, and the Best
Hand Test ðr¼:61;n¼142Þ. Moreover, Asymmetry
questionnaire outcomes were significantly (p<:001)
correlated with two independent hemisphericity-type
laterality measures: the polarity questionnaire ðr¼
0:64;n¼143Þand ZenhausernÕs preference question-
naire ðr¼0:35;n¼135Þ.
Each asymmetry questionnaire statement was tested
for correlation (p<:05) with the overall outcomes of the
five other laterality measures (Table 1). The number of
the 15 test statements that correlated with the measures
was: Best Hand Test, 14; Phased Mirror Tracing, 13;
Polarity Questionnaire 12 (overlapping), Dichotic Deaf-
ness Test, 10; and preference questionnaire, 4. Each of the
15 asymmetry questionnaire statements was significantly
correlated with at least three brain laterality measures.
4. Discussion
The present study shows that previously unrecog-
nized personality traits associated with hemisphericity,
not only exist, but also can be uncovered by the question
sorting of subjects, previously calibrated by independent
biophysical hemisphericity methods. This approach was
first demonstrated with the polarity questionnaire, 10/11
Table 1
Correlation of asymmetry questionnaire outcomes and items with other laterality measures
Group comparisons between laterality measures Values for rand pTotal nof test itemsaCorrelated Subjects tested n
Asymmetry questionnaire group scores vs.
Dichotic Deafness Test group laterality .44 <.001 10 115
Phased Mirror Tracing group laterality .66 <.001 13 131
Best Hand Test group laterality .61 <.001 14 142
Polarity questionnaire group score .64 <.001 12 143
Preference questionnaire group score .35 <.001 4 135
a
Total number of the 15 questions that were correlated (p<:05) with each of the laterality measures.
B.E. Morton / Brain and Cognition 51 (2003) 372–374 373
of whose hemisphericity outcomes were significantly
correlated with those of the Dichotic Deafness Test,
Phased Mirror Tracing, and the Best Hand Test (Mor-
ton, 2001, 2002, 2003a, 2003b).
Here, the asymmetry questionnaire proved quite
comparable to the polarity questionnaire, both in terms
of sorting subjects into laterality groups, and in its sig-
nificant correlations with three biophysical laterality
measures and two hemisphericity-type questionnaires.
Thirteen of its empirical statements were added to the
growing list of personality traits associated with right
and left brain laterality subgroups. The exact nature of
these and the earlier correlated brain laterality traits
(Morton, 2000b; Zenhausern, 1978) remain to be char-
acterized and will be the topic of a future paper.
Appendix A. Right or left brain-oriented? The asymmetry
questionnaire
Your Name or Number:____________
For each of these 15 pairs of statements, mark an X at
the START of the ONE statement that is MOST like you.
References
Morton, B. E. (2001). Large individual differences in minor ear output
during dichotic listening. Brain and Cognition,45, 229–237.
Morton, B. E. (2002). Outcomes of hemisphericity questionnaires
correlate with unilateral dichotic deafness. Brain and Cognition,49,
63–72.
Morton, B. E. (2003). Phased mirror tracing outcomes correlate with
several hemisphericity measures. Brain and Cognition,51.
Morton, B. E. (2003). Two-hand, line-bisection task outcomes
correlate with several measures of hemisphericity. Brain and
Cognition,51.
Zenhausern, R. (1978). Imagery, cerebral dominance, and style of
thinking: A unified field model. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society,
12, 381–384.
Further reading
Wilson, R. H., & Leigh, E. D. (1996). Identification performance by
right- and left-handed listeners on dichotic CV materials. Journal of
the American Academy of Audiology,7, 1–6.
Statement A Statement B
1. I often talk about my
and otherÕs feelings of
emotion.
I tend to avoid talking
about emotional
feelings.
2. I am good at finishing
projects.
I am a strong starter of
projects.
3. I organize parts into
the whole (synthetic,
creative).
I break the whole
into parts (reductive-
reductionistic)
4. I am quick-acting in
emergency.
I methodically solve
problems by process of
elimination
5. I think and listen
interactively-vocally,
and talk a lot.
I think and listen
quietly, keep my talk to
a minimum
6. I donÕt read other
peopleÕs mind very well.
I am very good at
knowing what others
are thinking
7. I see the big picture
(project data beyond,
can predict).
I am analytical
(stay within the limits
of the data).
8. I tend to be
independent, hidden,
private, and indirect.
I tend to be
interdependent, open,
public, and direct.
9. I usually design
original outfits of
clothing.
I dress for success and
wear high status
clothing.
10. I need to be alone
and quiet when upset.
I need closeness and to
talk things out when
upset.
11. I praise others, and
also work for praise
from others
I do not praise others,
nor need the praise of
others.
12. IÕm more interested
in objects and things.
I tend to be more
interested in people
and feelings.
13. I seek frank
feedback from others.
I avoid seeking
evaluation by others.
14. I often feel my mate
talks too much.
I feel my mate doesnÕt
talk or listen to me
enough.
15. IÕm strict, my kids
obey me and work for
my approval.
IÕm not a strict parent,
my kids donÕt obey me
well.
L Score ¼EA þOB ¼=15.
374 B.E. Morton / Brain and Cognition 51 (2003) 372–374
