The Role of Hand, Eye, and Ear Lateralization in the Sense of Rhythm of the Athletes

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship among the hand, eye, and ear lateralizations and the sense of rhythm of the athletes randomly selected from different sport branches.

A total of 115 elite athletes including 72 males (62.6%) and 43 females (37.4%) whose mean age was 22.3±2.4 years and who receive training at different departments of the Faculty of Sports Sciences, Ataturk University were included in the study. Hand preference was assessed based on the Geschwind score by applying Edinburgh Inventory test. The dominant eye was tested by the Dolman Method (hole-in-the-card test). Hearing durations were measured using 128 Hz diapason and digital chronometer. The rhythm perception and application skills were assessed considering the rhythmic answers given practically to the rhythm patterns previously prepared by the researcher.

As for the handedness of the athletes, 16.5% of them were left-handed (n=19), 7.8% (n=9) were two-handed, and 75.7% (n=87) were right-handed. While 18.3% (n=21) had good hearing durations with left ear, and 13.9% (n=16) had good hearing durations with right ear, 67.8% (n=78) had very close hearing durations with two ears. While left eye of 41.7% (n=48) was dominant, the right eye of 58.3% (n=67) was dominant. According to the rhythm perception and application test results, 46.1% of the athletes were weak (n=53), 30.4% at the midlevel (n=35), 13.9% (n=16) good, and 9.6% (n=11) at very good level.

No significant relationship was found between the eye and ear lateralization of the athletes and their rhythm perception and application skills; however, it was found that the sense of rhythm of the left-handed individuals was better than the right-handed ones with respect to the handedness.