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

Identifying the information processing constraints that determine whether or not imagery moderates visual field asymmetries is essential for constructing a dynamic model of hemispheric interaction during language processing. In this investigation, we manipulated the global experimental context in which imageable and nonimageable words were presented by contrasting mixed and blocked word lists using a lateralized lexical decision task. Signal detection analyses were employed to assess whether global stimulus context and imageability differentially affect word discriminability (d prime) and response bias (log beta) across visual fields. Both discriminability and response bias varied with imageability and stimulus context, but to a comparable extent across visual fields. This suggests that both hemispheres are sensitive to the global context in which words are presented, and can adjust processing based not only on semantic characteristics of the words themselves, but also on the variability of items in the stimulus environment.