Effect of lateralized lesions on ipsilateral and contralateral motor functioning

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Abstract
The present study investigated the effect of lesions principally involving the left or right cerebral hemisphere upon measures of grip strength and finger tapping speed. The purpose was to determine whether ipsilateral and contralateral motor deficits were more frequently associated with lesions of the right or left cerebral hemispheres in patients with cerebral vascular, traumatic, or neoplastic damage. Groups of subjects with right hemisphere (n = 45) and left hemisphere (n = 45) damage were composed solely on the basis of detailed neurological records. Each group consisted of 15 subjects with vascular, traumatic, or neoplastic lesions. The results indicated that neither lesions of the left nor right cerebral hemisphere were pre-eminent in producing ipsilateral or contralateral motor deficits. The significant differences found were interpreted as reflecting the hand preference of the patients.