ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews neuropsychological data on imagery from the viewpoint of a general theory of cognition that has guided research for more than 20 years. The complexity of the problem is evident in the diversity of views concerning the cerebral localization of imagery. The most common and longstanding view, supported by considerable evidence, is that imagery is predominantly a right hemisphere function. The review concentrates instead on neuropsychological findings relevant to each of the assumptions, with special emphasis on imagery. Neurological data showing functional dissociation of the two dimensions are consistent with the assumption. For example, whereas printed names are usually recognized better when presented to the left hemisphere, pictures of familiar objects are recognized equally easily when presented to either hemisphere. The assumption that verbal and nonverbal representations can be activated in different ways helps to make sense out of some of the complexities in the neuropsychological literature.
