Reaction-times of normal subjects to monaurally presented verbal and tonal stimuli

Sixteen right-handed subjects responded to monaurally presented verbal and tonal stimuli with their right and left hands at separate times. Subjects' reaction-times to speech were significantly faster when they heard words in their right ears, while their reaction-times to tones proved significantly faster after left-ear stimulations. Reaction-times to speech were significantly faster when subjects responded with their right hands, but after tonal stimulations, left-handed responses were significantly faster. These results were interpreted as demonstrating consistent laterality effects—the faster response occuring after intrahemispheric processing. Furthermore, the interactions between ear stimulated and hand of response were suggestive of minor hemisphere processing.