Right hemisphere language processing : studies with normal subjects
This project was concerned with the nature of the language ability within the right cerebral hemisphere (RH), and in particular with the idea that the RH possesses a selective ability to process highly imageable words - the RH imageability hypothesis. Nine experiments are reported in which word stimuli were presented tachistoscopically to the lateral visual fields. In Experiments 1-5 the accuracy of lateral word recognition, with oral responding, was assessed. The prediction that performance asymmetry would vary as a function of word imageability was not fulfilled, and the results suggested that several previously published studies, which have hitherto been regarded as supporting the RH imageability hypothesis, may be discounted on artifactual grounds. The design of Experiment 6 incorporated a comparative judgement task, and manual reaction time functions were plotted separately for each visual field. A rationale was developed which enabled clearcut inferences to be made concerning the hemispheric locus of the decision stage in this task. Results clearly indicated that the task of deciding which of two imageable nouns refers to the larger object is limited to the left hemisphere. Thus the results of Experiments
Lambert, Anthony J.
Linguistics
Right hemisphere language processing : studies with normal subjects. This project was concerned with the nature of the language ability within the right cerebral hemisphere (RH), and in particular with the idea that the RH possesses a selective ability to process highly imageable words - the RH imageability hypothesis. Nine experiments are reported in which word stimuli were presented tachistoscopically to the lateral visual fields. In Experiments 1-5 the accuracy of lateral word recognition, with oral responding, was assessed. The prediction that performance asymmetry would vary as a function of word imageability was not fulfilled, and the results suggested that several previously published studies, which have hitherto been regarded as supporting the RH imageability hypothesis, may be discounted on artifactual grounds. The design of Experiment 6 incorporated a comparative judgement task, and manual reaction time functions were plotted separately for each visual field. A rationale was developed which enabled clearcut inferences to be made concerning the hemispheric locus of the decision stage in this task. Results clearly indicated that the task of deciding which of two imageable nouns refers to the larger object is limited to the left hemisphere. Thus the results of Experiments
right hemisphere language_processing study normal subject project concerned_nature language ability within right cerebral hemisphere particular idea possess selective ability process highly word hypothesis report word stimulus present lateral visual field accuracy lateral word_recognition oral responding assess prediction performance asymmetry would vary function_word fulfil suggest several previously_publish study hitherto regard support hypothesis may discount ground design incorporated comparative judgement_task manual reaction_time function plot separately visual field rationale develop enabled inference make concern hemispheric locus decision stage task clearly indicate task decide noun refers large object limit leave hemisphere thus