Using ECT to study hemispheric specialization for sequential processes.

Two studies are reported, citing the effects of unilateral versus bilateral electroconvulsive shock therapy on the performance of short cognitive tests. In Study 1, seven tets were administered before and after three treatment sessions. The most interesting finding was that performance improved significantly on the Knox Cube Imitation test following right unilateral shock. Study 2 replicated this unexpected finding. These results were interpreted as demonstrating that the left cerebral hemisphere is specialized for the processing of sequential time-dependent information.