ABSTRACT
In this section of the chapter we examine the role that interhemispheric processing is likely to play in word recognition. Before we review the evidence, however, we begin by evaluating the logical conditions that must be met to even presume that interhemispheric processing plays a role in word recognition. As a logical starting point, interhemispheric interaction can only be relevant to the performance of a task when each hemisphere has some degree of competence at the task or each hemisphere is capable of performing some of the task's component processes. In fact, with the exception of phonological processing (e.g., Rayman & Zaidel, 1991) and speech output (e.g., Sperry, Gazzaniga, & Bogen, 1969), both hemispheres appear capable of contributing to nearly all cognitive functions. This statement does not imply that the hemispheres perform every task with equal facility, or that they do so in an equivalent manner, as clearly the hemispheres are specialized for distinct modes of information processing. The first logical question we must address, thus, is whether there is any evidence that the right hemisphere is capable of word recognition.
