You Can Tell by Looking at a "Left-Handed" Brain

[Photo by International Left-Handers Association] Today (the 13th) is International Left-Handers Day.

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] Domestic researchers have found that the brain regions recognizing tactile sensations in both hands are different. In other words, the brain areas that perceive tactile sensations in the left and right hands differ. The research team expects this technology to be utilized in treatments that enhance cognitive abilities by connecting our brain with computers.

The research team led by An Jin-woong, principal researcher at the Intelligent Robotics Research Division of Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), announced on the 26th that they observed different brain regions recognizing tactile sensations passively delivered to the left and right hands. Their related research paper was published online on the 7th (local time) in the international academic journal Scientific Reports.

Different Brain Regions Recognize Tactile Sensations in Both Hands

This is a brain signal activation image showing the asymmetry of cerebral metabolic activity in the left and right hands in response to passive tactile stimulation.

The research team observed brain signals using 'passive tactile sensation,' which is the tactile feeling from stimuli passively delivered to both hands at rest. They applied very rapid vibrations briefly (2 seconds) multiple times (10 times) to the index fingers of both hands of 31 subjects presumed to be right-handed and imaged the activated brain regions. As a result, the left hemisphere was mainly activated for the right-hand index finger, while a wide and even activation across both the left and right hemispheres appeared for the left-hand index finger.

The research team emphasized the significance of objectively distinguishing the brain regions activated and the degree of activation depending on the stimuli given to the left and right hands. They anticipate that this study will make it possible to objectively distinguish left-handedness. Currently, the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory is considered a method to distinguish left-handedness, which is a qualitative evaluation based on subjective questionnaires.

Application in Cognitive Ability Enhancement Treatments

Unilateral index showing the asymmetry of cerebral metabolic activity between the left and right hands in response to passive tactile stimulation

Furthermore, the research team expects to apply these findings to brain-computer interface (BCI) technology for use in treatments that enhance cognitive abilities.

Principal researcher An Jin-woong said, "This research result can be applied by integrating BCI technology with haptic technology, making it usable in augmented reality fields," and added, "It is expected to greatly help provide the fundamental principles for developing artificial intelligence that mimics the brain."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.