LATERALIZED FREE-ASSOCIATION PRIMING - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE HEMISPHERIC ORGANIZATION OF SEMANTIC MEMORY

The organization of semantic memory in intact cerebral hemispheres was examined by a free-association priming task. Normal subjects studied a list of word pairs where the semantic relations were either coordina te (e.g. saw-axe) or locative (e.g. bear-forest). Priming of the word pairs was tested by presenting test cues (initial words of the pairs) to the left or to the right visual field. Results showed an interactio n between visual field and word pair type, suggesting a qualitative di fference in the semantic organization of the hemispheres. Specifically , the results support the view that coordinate relations are represent ed in both hemispheres whereas locative relations are represented main ly in the right hemisphere.