Drawing and identifying objects in relation to semantic category and handedness.

We investigated whether the directionality of different objects and participants' handedness affected drawing and visual object identification performance. In Experiment 1, 190 participants were asked to draw 246 pictures of objects belonging to different semantic categories. Results showed a preferential direction (leftward, rightward, or frontal view) for most of pictures. In Experiment 2, the directionality patterns found in Experiment 1 were verified in a visual identification task. Sixty participants were requested to identify pictures presented leftward or rightward. For some categories, the speed of responses was greater for pictures having the directionality assessed in the previous experiment. The effect of handedness emerged for two categories of objects (animals and vehicles) characterised by two properties: asymmetry and motion. Findings were discussed in relation to the Motor Image Theory on the isomorphism between motor (drawing) and visual (identification) processes.