LATERALIZATION OF FRONTAL-LOBE FUNCTIONS AND COGNITIVE NOVELTY

The two hemispheres are functionally different in ways not adequately captured by the classic distinction between linguistic and nonlinguist ic processes. The right hemisphere is critical for processing novel co gnitive situations. The left hemisphere is key to the processes mediat ed by well-routinized representations and strategies. The left frontal systems appear to be critical for the cognitive selection driven by t he content of working memory and for context-dependent behavior, the r ight frontal systems for cognitive selection driven by the external en vironment and for context-independent behavior. The crucial role of th e right hemisphere in processing cognitively novel situations undersco res the importance of the right frontal systems in task orientation an d in the assembly of novel cognitive strategies.