Hemispheric differences for verbal and nonverbal stimuli in Japanese- and English-speaking subjects assessed by Tsunoda's method

This investigation compared the performance of Japanese- and English-speaking subjects on T. Tsunoda's DAF key-tapping task, which he purports assesses cerebral dominance for language (1975, Brain and Language, 2, 152–170). Twenty-three native speakers of Japanese and 23 English-speaking subjects were employed in this study. Each subject was administered the DAF key-tapping task utilizing the vowel /a/ and a 1000-Hz pure tone. The results revealed an effect of intensity, whereby an increase in DAF/SAF ratios resulted in an increase in performance disruption. No differences were observed between the two language groups, ears, or between the 1000-Hz pure tone and the vowel /a/. Only 15.5% of the subjects showed the hypothesized right ear advantage for the tone when subjected to an analysis similar to Tsunoda's. All other subjects revealed variable degrees of advantage to either ear, to the same ear, or to to neither ear. It was concluded that no significant functional auditory asymmetry was observed for either group, suggesting that the DAF key-tapping task may not be a sensitive procedure to determine cerebral dominance for language among normals.     

Exposure and response prevention of morbid ruminations and compulsive avoidance

Two patients with morbid ruminations and compulsive avoidance behavior were independently treated by the authors with exposure and response prevention strategies. The patients were quite different with respect to age (23 vs 58), occupational status (student vs civil servant) and length of disorder (2 vs 40 years), although their disorders were quite similar. The present report describes the patients and treatment procedures and reports on dramatic behavioral changes that occurred within brief time periods.