Relative laterality of the N170 to single letter stimuli is predicted by a concurrent neural index of implicit processing of letternames

► ERPs were recorded in a one-back task with single letter and false font stimuli. ► Single letters elicited a bilateral enhancement of the N170. ► Letters preceded by a rhyming letter (e.g. e-c) tended to elicit an N450 rhyme effect. ► The N450 rhyme effect predicted relative left-laterality of the N170 to letters.