Study of Ear Temperature and Cognitive Processing

It is believed that the temperature of the ear drum reflects the temperature of adjacent brain tissue. Previous research (Boyce et al., 2002) reported that the differences in temperature between the right and left ear drums is associated with psychological differences in children (Boyce, W. T., Essex, M. J., Alkon, A., Smider, N. A., Pickrell, T., & Kagan, J. ,2002). Temperament, tympanum, and temperature: Four provisional studies of the biobehavioral correlates of tympanic membrane temperature asymmetries. Child development, 73(3), 718-733. This study seeks to replicate and extend previous research. We want to see if differences between left and right ear temperatures are correlated with cognitive processing styles as measured by questionnaires.