Resource Allocation in Cerebral Specialization.

Abstract : A broad and cohesive theoretical framework is described from which to understand how cerebral specialization of function contributes to the adaptivity and flexibility of the human information processing system. In particular, we propose that the anatomical division of the brain can be mapped onto a division of processing resources so that the left and right hemispheres together comprise a system in which there are two pools of mutually inaccessible, finite, resources. Further, these two types of resources cannot be made available in different amounts for a normal individual whose callosum is intact. Thus, the framework we propose is essentially a special case of a multiple-resources model of limited-capacity information processing (Navon & Gopher, 1979), in which we tie the existence and number of resource pools to the anatomical structure of the brain. Our theoretical structure allows us to account for a broad range of data from both the divided attention and cerebral specialization literatures, including experiments involving perceptual and cognitive information processing, control of motor performance, and changes in the electrical activity of the brain.