According to recent neurolinguistic theories and research, language and other analytic functions are located on the left side of the brain, while spatial and configurational abilities are located on the right side. However, there is some evidence that while learning a language requires the use of both hemispheres of the brain, the right hemisphere dominates in the ability to memorize Chinese characters. Several studies suggest that Chinese characters do not go through an initial process of phonetic recognition before being fully recognized, as may be the case with English writing. Instead they are interpreted directly for meaning, as pictures are, so that Chinese is often easier to recall than English. (Author/MSE)