Psychophysiological correlates of human brain asymmetry: blood pressure changes during lateralized presentation of an emotionally laden film.

Fifty adult subjects were shown an emotionally positive film either in their left or right hemisphere by means of a technique for lateralizing visual input that allows prolonged viewing while permitting free ocular scanning. It was found that the cerebral hemispheres markedly differ in their capability to regulate blood pressure during emotionally laden situations of a distinctly positive nature. Right-hemispheric film presentation caused a significantly higher increase in systolic and diastolic pressure than left-hemispheric viewing of the same film. Moreover, hemisphere asymmetries were further increased if lateralized stimulus presentation and the lateralized carrying out of a stimulus-related response were combined within the same hemisphere, thereby enhancing unilateral processing. Finally, males and females clearly differed with respect to interhemispheric regulation of blood pressure.