Click Perception in Sentences as a Function of Mode of presentation and Handedness

Abstract

Eighteen right-handed and eighteen left-handed young normal listeners identified the location of clicks embedded within sentences. The sentence-click stimuli were presented monotically and dichotically to right and left ears; subjects wrote down click location with a slash mark on the sentence. Results indicate no significant difference in correct location of clicks (for either right- or left-handed listeners) as a function of mode of presentation, monotic or dichotic, to either ear, i.e., no laterality effect. Size of target (click on correct syllable, correct word, but not for word and/or word boundary) significantly affected correctness of location for right- and left-handed subjects. Left-handers were generally more accurate in over-all click location on word and syllable sized “targets.” There is also evidence of a handedness by mode of presentation interaction. Results are discussed in terms of models of speech perception and laterality-handedness effects.