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Evaluating a split processing model of visual word recognition: effects of word length.
M Lavidor1, A W Ellis, R Shillcock
1Department of Psychology, University of York, YO10 5DD, York, UK. M.lavidor@psych.york.ac.uk
Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research
|October 6, 2001
Summary
The split fovea in human vision impacts word recognition. Initial word letters processed by the right hemisphere show slower responses, while final letters processed by the left hemisphere are faster, supporting the split fovea theory.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Human foveal vision is characterized by a split, with initial word letters projecting to the right hemisphere (RH) and final letters to the left hemisphere (LH).
- This anatomical feature may influence the early stages of visual word recognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the consequences of the split fovea on the early processing of word beginnings and endings during central fixation.
- To test if lexical decision reaction times (RTs) are affected by the number of letters to the left versus the right of the fixation point.
Main Methods:
- Experiment 1: Central presentation of five- and eight-letter words, manipulating the number of letters to the left and right of the fixation point.
- Experiment 2: A lateralized version of Experiment 1 to examine visual field effects.
Main Results:
- Longer latencies for longer letter strings were observed when processing initial word letters, consistent with RH processing.
- Word recognition features associated with the LH characterized the processing of word endings.
- Experiment 2 confirmed established visual field and word length interactions.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the split fovea theory of visual word recognition.
- Hemispheric differences in processing initial versus final word segments are evident.
- The split fovea has demonstrable consequences for reading behavior.
