Study on the Cerebral Laterality Pattern of Medical Students

Ahn, E Tay; Kim, Min Jung; Park, Kyung Ho; Park, Dae Kyoon; Ko, Jeong Sik

Abstract

In this study, cerebral functional laterality patterns of medical students in the year 2005 were compared with those in the year 1995. Questionnaires on the behavior patterns were asked, and the laterality patterns were classified as right hemispheric (R)-balanced hemispheric (B)-left hemispheric (L). 385 students were studied (210 male and 175 female). Of the 3 categories, male students showed the patterns of R (42.8%), B (31.9%) and L (25.3%). Female students showed R (45.2%), B (30.9%) and L (23.9%). As the above result shows, laterality patterns of male and female were similar. The above data were compared with the another data in the article reported in 1995. Previous report showed that R (63.5%), B (24.9%) and L (11.6%) in the male students, and R (49.0%), B (22.4%) and L (28.6%) in female students, respectively. From the above results, It was suggested that cerebral laterality patterns of medical students in the year 2005 shifted toward left, but it still remained 42~45% in right hemispheric as contrast to 24~25% in left hemispheric. Hemispheric shift was interpreted as that, it may be the result of student's adaptative or competitive activities in the fast changing social environment.