The influence of subliminal emotional words on functional hemispheric asymmetry

The P300 component of the evoked potential was recorded over both hemispheres in order to study interhemispheric differences in the process of perception of subliminal verbal stimuli. The stimuli--subliminal words, neutral and emotional--were presented at random to the left or right visual fields. In response to an unrecognized emotional word, the amplitude of P300 wave increased diffusely over both hemispheres as compared to that to a neutral word, with no changes in interhemispheric differences. The interhemispheric difference changed considerably in the presence of an 'unaccountable' emotion caused by a subliminal word. This suggests a unilateral activation of the right hemisphere and a predominant role of this hemisphere in the cortical organization of the unconscious function 'unaccountable' emotion.