Abstract
M.A.
The goal of the present study was to determine whether there are any statistically
significant differences between people with high and people with low scores on visuospatial tests with regard to the prevalence of allergies, left-handedness and creativity.
The motivation for the study is based on the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda theory. According to this theory people with high versus low scores in right hemispheric abilities such as visuospatial
abilities differ with regard to the prevalence of various psychosomatic and
neuropsychological factors. These differences are attributed to prenatal hypersecretion of
testosterone.
An empirical study was performed in order to compare the prevalence of allergies and lefthandedness
and the creative abilities of people with high scores and people with low scores
on visuo-spatial tests. Twenty five male students with high scores on visuo-spatial tests and
25 male students with low scores on visuo-spatial tests served as the experimental subjects.
The selection of subjects was done by means of the General Scholastic Aptitude test
(GSAT).
An allergy questionnaire and handedness questionnaire and four creativity tests served as
measuring instruments. Two verbal and two non-verbal creativity tests were included.
The data were statistically analysed by means of Wilk's coeffisient Lambda and Student's ttests.
The results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between male
students with high scores on visuo-spatial tests and male students with low scores on visuospatial
tests with regard to the prevalence of allergies and left-handedness and creative
abilities.
The present study did not support the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda theory . The results of a
previous study (Benbow, 1986) in which people with different mathematical abilities served
as experimental subjects, did support the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda theory. Another
study by Wiley and Goldstein (1991) in which the study of Benbow (1986) was replicated did
not find support for the Geschwind-Behan-Galaburda theory.
Further research is thus necessary in order to determine the validity of the Geschwind-
Behan-Galaburda theory.