QUANTITATIVE-ANALYSIS OF GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE EFFECTS OF LATERALIZED LESIONS ON VERBAL AND PERFORMANCE IQ

Previous studies and meta-analyses have demonstrated that males have l arger differences between Verbal IQ (VIQ) and Performance IQ (PIQ) fol lowing unilateral brain lesions. Several theories have been proposed a s an explanation of this finding, including a greater degree of functi onal lateralization in males, gender differences in the organization o f language centers within the left hemisphere, and differences in prob lem-solving strategy for PIQ. We apply quantitative methods for analys is of relations between lesion location and behavior to a sample of 64 males and females with unilateral brain lesions. Statistical tests co nducted in LISREL-VII suggest that in females, a single model can desc ribe the relationships between lesion location and VIQ and PIQ, with l eft-hemisphere lesions producing more severe deficits on both measures . In males, separate models of the relationships between lesion locati on and VIQ and PIQ are required.