The Right Hemisphere and Ambiguity

Abstract. The Rorschach Test has evolved from an idiosyncratic projective personality test to an evidence-based performance test used widely in forensic settings. The current paper argues that Rorschach researchers should consider the role of two related neuropsychological factors in the assessment of Rorschach responding: the role of the right cerebral hemisphere in the perception of ambiguous figures and the role of individual differences (as a function of consistency of handedness) in responding to ambiguous stimuli. The right hemisphere is more fluent and flexible in the perception of ambiguous stimuli. Moreover, individuals with mixed/inconsistent hand preference have greater access to right hemisphere processing, and, accordingly, are more fluent and flexible in their perception of ambiguous stimuli. This raises the possibility of quantitative and qualitative differences in Rorschach responsivity as a function of test takers’ handedness. Implications of the presence of higher rates of schizotypy in inconsistent-handers are also discussed.