Handedness and the fringe of consciousness: strong handers ruminate while mixed handers self-reflect.
Christopher Lee Niebauer
Consciousness and Cognition December 2004 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2004.07.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 255 |
| Population | Adults assessed for handedness and self-rumination versus self-reflection |
| Measures | Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire |
| Key points | The authors argue that variations in interhemispheric interaction, measured by degree of handedness, contribute to differences in consciousness, specifically self-rumination versus self-reflection. In their sample of 255, strong handedness was associated with self-rumination and mixed handedness with increased self-reflection (p values < .01). They link these patterns to James's "fringe of consciousness" and review studies suggesting mixed handers experience fringe consciousness more than strong handers. |
Abstract
Previous research found that mixed handers (i.e., those that are more ambidextrous) were more likely than strong handers to update their beliefs (Niebauer, Aselage, & Schutte, 2002). It was assumed that this was due to greater degrees of communication between the two cerebral hemispheres in mixed handers. Niebauer and Garvey (2004) made connections between this model of updating beliefs and metacognitive processing. The current work proposes that variations in interhemispheric interaction (as measured by degree of handedness) contribute to differences in consciousness, specifically when consciousness is used in rumination versus the metacognitive task of self-reflection. Using the Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire (Trapnell & Campbell, 1999), predictions were supported such that strong handedness was associated with self-rumination; whereas, mixed handedness was associated with increased self-reflection p values<.01, (N=255). James's (1890) concept of the "fringe of consciousness" is used to make connections between metacognition, updating beliefs, and self-reflection. Several studies are reviewed suggesting that mixed handers experience fringe consciousness to a greater degree than strong handers.
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- Metacognition The MIT Press eBooks April 7, 1994
- Hemispheric interaction and consciousness: degree of handedness predicts the intensity of a sensory illusion. Laterality 2002
- Simulating consciousness in a bilateral neural network: "nuclear" and "fringe" awareness. Consciousness and Cognition March 1999