Lexical decision time as a function of visual field and stimulus probability.

Abstract

Two experiments were performed to study lexical decision time to word and non-word Hebrew trigrams as a function of stimulus probability, visual hemifield and responding hand. The results indicate that lexical decision time to words is shorter than to non-words. In addition, although decision time to words is significantly shorter with right hemifield stimulation than with left hemifield stimulation, decision time to non-words is the same whether they are presented to the right or left hemifield. Decision time to non-words decreases almost linearly as stimulus probability increases from 0.25 to 0.75, whereas decision time to words decreases in a concave manner apparently approaching an asymptote at a stimulus probability of 0.75. Responding hand is not significant as a main effect or in any interaction with any other variable. The data are discussed in terms of several models of hemispheric linguistic superiority.