Hemisphere differences in the recognition of nonsense shapes: cerebral dominance or strategy effects?

A tachistoscopic visual half-field task involving delayed recognition of nonsense shapes did not prove to rely disproportionately on either cerebral hemisphere. However, subjects at either extreme of the laterality distribution were more accurate at recognition overall, relative to subjects displaying indeterminate laterality. These results are discussed in terms of subjects' preferred processing strategies and it is concluded that until we possess a detailed knowledge of task requirements and of subjects' strategies, the results of laterality studies will remain ambiguous.