Scientists conducted a range of cognitive tests with older adults in their 60’s and 70’s. They then chose two smaller groups from those subjects–those who performed high on the tests, and those who performed low. The scientists administered two of the same tests to the two groups of older adults, as well as to a group of young adults between the ages of 20 and 35,while the subjects’ brains were PET scanned. What They found was that the high-performing older adults showed significantly more use of bilateral processing than anyone else. The research supports the theory that bilateral processing is a way to compensate for reduced capacity of the right hemisphere with age. Further research may examine how training individuals or using drugs to enhance bilateral processing affects diseases such as Alzheimer’s.