• to direct students' attention towards the variety of individual differences in behavior;
• to present information about the problems of the lateralization of cognitive functions.

• To present the main known facts of human cerebral laterality. Given the explosion of research, especially over the past 3 decades, we try to examine laterality from as many perspectives as possible. We therefore draw on evidence from normal, individuals as well as from neurological patients, and where it seems appropriate we also cover material on asymmetries in other species.
• To consider the development of laterality, the evolution and inheritance of laterality, the relation between laterality and the development of language and nonverbal functions. We examine the development of knowledge and ideas about cerebral laterality over the course of history.
• To treat the problem of individual differences. The scientific study of human cerebral asymmetry has paralleled the study of individual differences. To a considerable extend the theory of human laterality has been based on the study of individual differences. It is generally accepted that whereas we may search for psychological rules that apply to behavior in general, any theory of human behavior needs to allow for individual differences. The course proceeds with lectures on the role of experimental psychology in the individual's efforts to organize the world via such basic mean as perception, discusses individual differences in high cortical functions and differences between sexes.
• To present a synthesis of the contributions of the theory of cerebral functional asymmetry in the clinical and educational practice.

Experimental Techniques in Human Neuropsychology, Oxford, 1986.

Gale, A., Eysenk, M. W.,

Handbook of Individual Differences: Biological Perspectives, John Willy & Sons, 1992.

Reinolds, C., Willson, V. (eds.),

Methodological and Statistical Advances in the Study of Individual Differences, Plenum Press, 1986.

Hartlage, L.C., Telzrow, C.F. (eds.),

The Neuropsychology of Individual Differences, Plenum Press, New York, 1985.

• introduction – basic concepts, biological basis, history.
• learning – ontogenesis of lateralization, sex differences, handedness, individual differences in cognitive functioning.
• experimental techniques – methods of studying cerebral lateralization of cognitive functions.

• Hartlage, L.C., Telzrow, C.F. (eds.) The Neuropsychology of Individual Differences, Plenum Press, New York, 1985, Chapter 1, 2.

Topic 2: Evolution and inheritance of laterality.
Seminar:Presentation of some additional examples.
Required reading:

• Gale, A., Eysenk, M. W., Handbook of Individual Differences: Biological Perspectives, John Willy & Sons, 1992, Chapter 1a, 2.

Topic 3: Development of laterality. Ontogenetic aspects.
Lab work:How to test children.
Required reading:

• Hartlage, L.C., Telzrow, C.F. (eds.) The Neuropsychology of Individual Differences, Plenum Press, New York, 1985, Chapter 3.

Topic 4: Human handedness. Relations between handedness and cerebral lateralization.
Lab work: Handedness assessment of children and adults. Different models.
Required reading:

• Reinolds, C., Willson, V. (eds.) Methodological and Statistical Advances in the Study of Individual Differences, Plenum Press, 1986, Chapter 3.

Topic 5: Language and visual-spatial capabilities of the left hemisphere.
Required reading:

• Hannay, H. (ed.) Experimental Techniques in Human Neuropsychology, Oxford, 1986, Chapter 10a, 11.

Topic 6: Language and visual-spatial capabilities of the right hemisphere. The role of the right hemisphere in face and music perception.
Seminar: 2 hour seminar on experimental procedures for the assessment of cerebral functions in normal subjects and patients with unilateral brain damages.
Required reading:

• Hartlage, L.C., Telzrow, C.F. (eds.) The Neuropsychology of Individual Differences, Plenum Press, New York, 1985, Chapter 4a, 6.

Topic 7: The analytic-holistic processing distinction and left hemisphere segmental processing.
Seminar: Discussion of the main topics.
Required reading:

• Reinolds, C., Willson, V. (eds.) Methodological and Statistical Advances in the Study of Individual Differences, Plenum Press, 1986, Chapter 4.

Topic 8: Learning and memory. Experimental techniques.
Required reading:

• Hartlage, L.C., Telzrow, C.F. (eds.) The Neuropsychology of Individual Differences, Plenum Press, New York, 1985, Chapter 6.

Topic 9: Foundation and rationale for psychological bases of individual differences.
Required reading:

• Hartlage, L.C., Telzrow, C.F. (eds.) The Neuropsychology of Individual Differences, Plenum Press, New York, 1985, Chapter 6.

Topic 10: Individual differences in general cognitive ability.
Lab work: 2 hour multiple choice test.
Required reading:

• Hartlage, L.C., Telzrow, C.F. (eds.) The Neuropsychology of Individual Differences, Plenum Press, New York, 1985, Chapter 6.

Topic 11: Sex differences in verbal and nonverbal functions.
Required reading:

• Reinolds, C., Willson, V. (eds.) Methodological and Statistical Advances in the Study of Individual Differences, Plenum Press, 1986, Chapter 8a, 9.

Topic 12: Methods for studying cerebral hemisphere functions (part 1).
Required reading:

• Reinolds, C., Willson, V. (eds.) Methodological and Statistical Advances in the Study of Individual Differences, Plenum Press, 1986, Chapter 8a, 9.

Topic 13: Methods for studying cerebral hemisphere functions (part 2).
Required reading:

• Reinolds, C., Willson, V. (eds.) Methodological and Statistical Advances in the Study of Individual Differences, Plenum Press, 1986, Chapter 8a, 9.

Topic 14: Individual differences in perception.
Required reading:

• Hannay, H. (ed.) Experimental Techniques in Human Neuropsychology, Oxford, 1986, Chapter 2a, 3.

Topic 15: Synthesis of the theory of cerebral functional asymmetry and clinical and educational implications of human cerebral asymmetry.
Seminar: 2 hours final discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of the known experimental techniques for assessment of individual differ-ences.
Required reading:

• Hannay, H. (ed.) Experimental Techniques in Human Neuropsychology, Oxford, 1986, Chapter 2a, 3.

• homework assignment – writing a 5-10 page paper and defending it publicly;
• oral exam;
• grade from the participation in the seminars and from a multiple choice test.