Hemispheric differences in global and local processing dependent on exposure duration

Abstract

The main purpose of the present experiment was to examine hemispheric differences in the analysis of global and local components of verbal hierarchical stimuli, by manipulating the parameters of the procedure, in the form of varying duration exposures (50, 100 and 200 msec). Subjects had to decide whether or not a target-letter appeared in the stimuli. The results provide evidence that the cerebral hemispheres may differ in their ability to process global and local information, but only under certain conditions. A RH-LVF advantage in accuracy rate was found in the detection of the target at global level and a LH-RVF advantage in the detection of the target at local level, but only with a presentation of 50 msec. At 100 and 200 msec of exposure duration, differences between the two hemispheres were not found.