Voluntary control of two lateralized conscious states: validation by electrical and behavioral studies.
P S Gott, E C Hughes, K Whipple
Neuropsychologia 1984 DOI: 10.1016/0028-3932(84)90008-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A single human subject able to voluntarily select two states of consciousness |
| Measures | EEG alpha, task performance scores, evoked response measures of interhemispheric transmission rate |
| Key findings | The authors report that a single subject could voluntarily enter two qualitatively different states of consciousness, each associated with differential left or right hemisphere dominance as measured by EEG alpha asymmetries and task performance. Evoked response studies showed directional changes in interhemispheric transmission rate correlated with state-related dominance, which the authors present as evidence of voluntary endogenous control of cerebral dominance. |
Abstract
A subject is described who can voluntarily select and hold either of two qualitatively different states of consciousness. Evidence is presented which confirmed differential left or right hemisphere dominance in each state. Asymmetries of EEG alpha and task performance scores indicated a state-dependent shift in functional lateralization. Evoked response studies showed directional changes in rate of interhemispheric transmission correlated with state-related hemisphere dominance. These findings demonstrated that capability for voluntary endogenous control of cerebral dominance under natural conditions.