[Stages of information processing and cerebral hemispheric differences in random shape recognition].

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the differences of cerebral hemisphere function with respect to the way visual pattern information is stored in the long-term memory. The shape recognition in the left and right visual fields was measured after the subjects were trained to associate the shapes with relevant verbal labels, irrelevant verbal labels, or no verbal labels. Subjects were given a shape recognition test by the visual half-field presentation and both free- and aided-recall tests for retention of associated verbal labels. Results indicated that accuracy of recognition of shapes in the left visual field was greater than in the right visual field. Pretraining condition produced a significant main effect but no differential field effect. While irrelevant verbal labeling and observation conditions recognized the stimulus with equal reaction time in either visual field, the latency of relevant verbal labeling condition was longer in right visual field than in left visual field. These results were discussed in terms of the differences of cerebral hemisphere function in each stage of information processing.