Influence of luminance on hemispheric processing

Abstract

The influence of stimulus energy on the respective processing efficiency of the cerebral hemispheres was examined by varying the luminance of the display. Twelve right-handed males were laterally presented with faces to categorize as “female” or “male.” The stimulus luminance was.8 mL in one session and 12 mL in another, and all other methodological variables were held constant. A significant interaction between luminance and visual field was observed, resulting from an improved efficiency of the left hemisphere with an increase in luminance. The results are interpreted in terms of a differential sensitivity of the hemispheres to stimulus energy and, consequently, to the spatial frequency spectral components of the incoming information. © 1982, The psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.