Memory for pure and verb-derived nouns: implications for hemispheric specialization

Memory for pure and verb-derived nouns was assessed in two long-term memory experiments. The two types of nouns were matched for word frequency and number of syllables. The results of both experiments indicated that pure and verb-derived nouns do not differ in their demands on the information processing capacities of normal subjects when confounding factors are controlled. The implications of these findings for studies of hemispheric specialization for language are discussed.