Imageability and word recognition in the left and right visual fields: A signal detection analysis

Identifying the information processing constraints that determine whether o r not Imagery moderates visual field asymmetrics is essential for construct ing a dynamic model of hemispheric interaction Juring language processing. In this investigation, we manipulated the global experimental context in wh ich imageable and nonimageable words were presented by contrasting mixed an d blocked word lists using a lateralized lexical decision task. Signal dete ction analyses were employed to assess whether global stimulus context and imageability differentially affect word discriminability (d prime) and resp onse bias (log beta) across visual fields. Both discriminability and respon se bia varied with imageability and stimulus context, but to a comparable e xtent across visual fields. This suggests that both hemispheres are sensiti ve to the global context in which words art: presented, and can adjust proc essing based nut only on semantic characteristics of the words themselves, but also on the variability of items in the stimulus environment. (C) 2000 Academic Press.