[Semantic priming within and between the visual fields: an event-related brain potential study]

To investigate interhemispheric transfer of language information, event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded during performance of a semantic matching task in which prime and target word pairs were sequentially presented to either the left (LVF) or the right (RVF) visual field. A posterior slow negative shift prior to the target presentation developed over both hemispheres for LVF primes, whereas for RVF primes the negative shift declined over the right hemisphere. An N400 attenuation was observed for targets semantically related to the primes and was predominant over the left parietal site. The N400 priming effect was significantly reduced for LVF targets preceded by RVF primes, compared to other patterns of presentation. These findings indicate that semantic priming is attenuated in the right hemisphere when information is transferred from the left hemisphere.