Ear differences and implied cerebral lateralization on some intellective auditory factors

Abstract

A battery of auditory tests was given under the conditions of monaural and binaural presentation. The results indicated that both primary and second-order factors were similar to those found earlier with the same tests. The hierarchical solution also indicated that most of the differences between the conditions of presentation occurred at the lowest order of factoring. Differences between the means showed the same trends as those reported in the literature on hemispheric specialization. Obtained first-order factors were interpreted as Tonal Memory, Speech Perception Under Distraction/Distortion, and Maintaining and Judging Rhythm, all representing a measure of General Auditory Function. In addition, a broad first-order factor of Fluid Intelligence was identified along with Temporal Tracking, representing an interesting new component. Although General Auditory Function is a broad perceptual factor akin to General Visualization, it differs from the latter in an important way. It is suggested that competition between the auditory messages may be typical of General Auditory Function but that the hemispheric localization is not.