Giftedness, handedness, and word length effects on interhemispheric transfer and neural efficiency
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29038/eejpl.2026.13.1.mohKeywords:
gifted students , word length , neural efficiency , interhemisperic transmission times, RTs, experimental psychologyAbstract
Interhemispheric Transmission Time (IHTT) is a key indicator of cognitive processing efficiency. This study investigates IHTT differences – computed by subtracting incongruent from congruent conditions – to determine the effects of word length, handedness, and participant type. A total of 120 participants were divided into four groups: 30 right-handed gifted, 30 left-handed gifted, 30 right-handed non-gifted, and 30 left-handed non-gifted students. Giftedness was evaluated using the Behavioral Characteristics Checklist for Gifted Students, Abraham’s Creative Thinking Test, and Raven’s Progressive Matrices. IHTTs were measured using Arabic words of varying lengths in a factorial experimental design. Results revealed that gifted students exhibited significantly faster IHTTs, indicating enhanced interhemispheric communication and more efficient cognitive processing. A main effect of hand dominance was observed, with right-handed individuals demonstrating faster IHTTs than left-handed individuals, while word length did not significantly affect IHTTs. Moreover, a three-way interaction among word length, handedness, and participant type emerged: non-gifted students showed variations in processing words of different lengths, an effect absent in gifted students. These findings underscore the impact of giftedness on cognitive processing, particularly regarding interhemispheric transfer and word processing speed.
Data Availability Statement
Supporting data can made accessible on the following link: https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/4KXTFK.
Funding
This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [Grant No. KFU254008].
CRediT Author Statement
Tarik N. Mohamed: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Investigation, Writing – Original Draft, Supervision, Writing – Review & Editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project Administration; Shoeb Salah: Conceptualization, Software, Formal analysis, Resources, Writing – Review & Editing, Funding Acquisition.
Disclosure Statement
The authors reported no potential conflicts of interest.
Generative AI Statement
This manuscript benefited from the use of Paperpal, an AI-assisted language-enhancement tool, which was employed exclusively to improve grammar, clarity, and overall readability. The tool did not generate scientific content, interpret findings, or contribute to the conceptualization, analysis, or conclusions of the study. All substantive intellectual contributions, including the development of ideas, data interpretation, and writing of the core scientific content, were undertaken solely by the authors. The authors take full responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the manuscript.
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