Frequency asymmetries in vision: The action asymmetry hypothesis.

Abstract

According to a large body of research, the left and right cerebral hemispheres are specialized for different frequencies, in vision and audition, but the cause of this specialization is unknown. Here, we tested whether hemispheric asymmetries in visual perception can be explained by asymmetries in people's tendency to perform high- and low-frequency actions with their dominant and nondominant hands, respectively (the action asymmetry hypothesis). In two large, preregistered, online studies, participants judged low- and high-frequency shapes presented in the left and right visual hemifields. Overall, the typical hemispheric asymmetry for high versus low visual frequencies, which we found in right handers, was significantly reduced in left handers. Across experiments, hemispheric asymmetries for high-spatial-frequency stimuli were completely reversed between strong right and left handers. A third experiment testing dichotic listening suggests that this reversal cannot be explained by differences in language laterality. These results provide initial support for the action asymmetry hypothesis: Frequency asymmetries in perception may be explained by frequency asymmetries in action. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).