Imagery ability and visual perception of verbal and nonverbal stimuli

Abstract

Ss differing in imagery ability were required to identify letters, pictures, and geometric forms flashed one at a time to either the left or the right visual field. The three types of items were presented in homogeneous blocks, with different Ss receiving letters, pictures, or forms as their first list of items. Overall, recognition scores were higher for high imagers than for low, for pictures than for letters or forms, and in the right field than in the left. An analysis of first list data, which removed any effect of prior exposure to different types of material, yielded a significant triple interaction, showing the typical right-field superiority but no imagery effect for letters, a strong imagery effect but no field effect for pictures, and a marked left-field inferiority among low imagers in the recognition of forms. The data are discussed in terms of possible differences in functional asymmetries of the cerebral hemispheres for the two imagery groups. © 1971 Psychonomic Society, Inc.