Hemispheric Differences in Reaction Time to Verbal and Non-Verbal Stimuli

Abstract

It has been argued that the brain hemispheres are functionally asymmetrical in their ability to process verbal and non-verbal materials. The correctness of this generalization was tested by studying reaction times to the monaural presentation of verbal and non-verbal stimuli in young normal adults. Systematic differences in reaction times were obtained for the two ears, but these differences did not depend upon the verbal or non-verbal character of the stimuli. Rather, speed of response appeared to be related to stimulus properties within the verbal and non-verbal categories and not to the classification of the stimuli as verbal or non-verbal.