The previous visual field: effects of lateralization and response accuracy on current performance

The accuracy of performance in identifying syllables flashed to the RVF (right visual field) or LVF (left visual field) was strongly affected by the lateralization of and response accuracy for the previous stimulus, presented 10-20 sec earlier. For both the LVF and RVF, performance was better on Pre-LVF trials (previous stimulus in LVF) than on Pre-RVF trials (previous stimulus in RVF). The Pre-LVF advantage was the same in subjects with a strong RVF advantage and those with no asymmetry. Their performance was better when a previous stimulus had received adequate attention for correct encoding (Pre-Correct) than when it had not (Pre-Wrong), for both fields on Pre-LVF trials and the LVF, but not RVF, on Pre-RVF trials. Relations are discussed in terms of the capacities and properties of the RH (right hemisphere) and LH (left hemisphere) cerebral arousal systems.