ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes that a unique mode of semantic processing by the right hemisphere (RH) underlies many of its contributions to discourse comprehension (reviewed here and in Brownell & Martino, chapter 12, and Stemmer & Joanette, chapter 13, this volume). I begin by outlining a general model of RH coarse semantic coding and left hemisphere (LH) fine semantic coding, and explaining the motivation and advantages of such a model. I will then apply this model to account for existing evidence of RH semantic processing at the single-word level. Finally, I demonstrate how RH coarse semantic coding of single words can account for some of the contributions that the RH seems to make to discourse comprehension, reinterpreting previously demonstrated effects in that domain.
