Global versus local processing: is there a hemispheric dichotomy?

A major dichotomy proposed for lateralized information processing is that the right and left cerebral hemispheres are "global" and "analytic" processors respectively. Here three experiments employed a tachistoscopic recognition paradigm with letter patterns varying in size and composition. No visual field asymmetries in RT were found in the first two experiments, although statistical power was high and a Stroop-like effect ("global precedence") was supported. Experiment 3 resulted in a right field advantage for vocal naming responses yet no asymmetry for manual responses, suggesting that both hemispheres can recognize global and local patterns, but that introduction of a laterally controlled response independently determines asymmetry.