Application of theory of signal detection to dichotic listening

Listener performance during dichotic listening to CV nonsense syllables was assessed with a Yes/No target-monitoring task that provides both hit and false alarm information. The ear advantage was described by a metric, P(C)maxRE - P(C)maxLE, that is relatively insensitive to a listener's criterion or bias toward "yes" or "no" responses. One half of the listeners in two experiments had a significant right-ear advantage. The potential influence of listener criterion on measures of the ear advantage in conventional dichotic listening experiments is discussed.