LuriaL hemispheric interaction

Luria AR, Simernitskaya EG. Interhemispheric relations and the functions of the minor hemisphere. Neuropsychologia 1977; 15:175-178.

Proposes active, intentional memorizing is done by the dominant hemisphere, whereas involuntary or incidental memory depends on the nondominant hemisphere. Relates it to the idea of "figure" and "background" of K Goldstein.

Subjects were tested on their ability to memorize a list of 2-3 syllable words (intentional memorizing) v. counting the letters "k" in words and incidentally recalling words.

Idea was criticized in a note Rothenberg S, Gross K, Comments on the note byu Luria and Simernitskaya. Neuropsychologia 1978l 16: 367. They suggested there were baseline differences among groups.