Hemispheric asymmetries in global-local perception: Effects of individual differences in neuroticism

This study examined the impact of neuroticism on hemispheric specialisation and interhemispheric processing using a lateralised global-local perception task. A total of 43 individuals completed the laterality task as well as a standardised personality questionnaire, and were divided by a median split into low and high neuroticism groups. Results revealed that left hemisphere specialisation for local-level processing was absent for high neurotic individuals, although the groups were similar in asymmetries for global-level processing. Regression analyses confirmed that neuroticism was inversely correlated with the magnitude of left-hemisphere advantage for local-level processing but not associated with the asymmetry for global processing. Interhemispheric processing did not differ as a function of neuroticism. Results implicate the left temporoparietal region in neuroticism, which may in turn have implications for understanding neuropsychological links between neurotic personality traits and risk for psychopathology.