Interhemispheric Transfer of Visual, Auditory, Tactile, and Visuomotor Information in Children with Hydrocephalus and Partial Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum

Abstract

Interhemispheric transfer was examined in 13 normal controls and in 13 children with hydrocephalus and partial agenesis of the corpus callosum involving a missing splenium associated with spina bifida meningomyelocele and aqueductal stenosis. Children with hydrocephalus demonstrated greater left visual-field superiority for forms indicative of difficulty in interhemispheric transfer of visual information. Interhemispheric transfer time (ITT) was somewhat longer in the children with hydrocephalus, but neither the ITT task nor the dichotic listening and tactile naming tasks provided clear evidence of difficulties in callosal transfer. Sensory and perceptual control tasks revealed similar visual acuity and monotic word perception but larger 2-point discrimination thresholds and poorer tactile matching.