Perception of time intervals by schoolchildren depending on the dominance of the cerebral hemispheres in thinking and learning styles

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the characteristics of perception of short time intervals by schoolboys of different ages depending on the type of functional asymmetry of the cerebral hemispheres in thinking and learning styles. The study involved 60 males aged 9–10 years (younger school age), 12–14 years (middle school age), and 16–17 years (older school age). The dominant hemisphere was determined using the Torrance test. Based on the results, all subjects were divided into the following groups: left-hemispheric, right-hemispheric, and equal-hemispheric types. The intervals studied were: 5s, 15s, 30s, 60s. It was found that schoolboys 16-17 years old with a equal-hemispheric type of thinking and learning style underestimated the time intervals, while boys with left- and right-hemispheric types overestimated the time intervals studied. Regardless of the dominance of the hemisphere in the style of learning and thinking, the middle and younger school-age subjects overestimated all the proposed time intervals, i.e., they had a clear tendency to accelerate. The highest accuracy in estimating short time intervals was recorded in individuals with a equal-hemispheric type, while the lowest accuracy coefficient in estimating time was found in individuals with a left hemisphere type, particularly in the group of schoolboys 16-17 years old.