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Right hemisphere language ability: 1. Clinical evidence

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Current Psychological Reviews

Abstract

Evidence from a variety of clinical sources concerning the nature of language processing ability within the right cerebral hemisphere (RH) is reviewed. It appears that the RH is severely deficient with respect to the expressive functions of speech and writing, but it may possess a significant ability to comprehend language. It has been suggested that the ability of the RH in this respect may be extensive, but the generality of conclusions drawn seems to be suspect. Evidence from patients with left hemisphere damage suggests that in some circumstances the RH may ‘take over’ the performance of language functions from its inoperative partner. Further work should help clarify the conditions under which this takes place. The theory that reading in deep dyslexia is mediated by the RH is also reviewed. The idea that the RH is able to encode print stimuli into semantic but not phonological representations, and the possibility that it is selectively able to process imageable nouns, are two aspects of this theory that are consistent with other sources of evidence concerning RH language ability. However, support for the theory is far from unanimous, and the contradictory evidence is noted.

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  1. Department of Psychology, The University, DH1 3LE, Durham, UK

    Anthony J. Lambert

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Lambert, A.J. Right hemisphere language ability: 1. Clinical evidence. Current Psychological Reviews 2, 77–93 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02684456

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