Handedness,hemispheric specialization and saccadic eye movement latencies

Several recent studies have shown that normal subjects have shorter eye movement latencies for rightward saccades than for leftward saccades. The present study was designed to investigate, by using handedness as a variable, whether a structural factor or a learning effect is the greater contributing factor in this perceptual-motor asymmetry. Results of the study indicated that dextrals had significantly shorter latencies for rightward saccades and that left handers showed no asymmetry. The results support the notion that there is a structural determinant for asymmetries in saccadic latencies.