Inhibitory priming effects in auditory word recognition: when the target's competitors conflict with the prime word
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Updated: Sep 25, 2026

Interaction between Phonological and Semantic Processes in Visual Word Recognition using Electrophysiology
Published on: June 29, 2021
Sophie Dufour1, Ronald Peereman
1University of Bourgogne & C.N.R.S, Dijon, France. sophie.dufour@leadserv.u-bourgogne.fr
Abstract:
Several studies indicate that the number of similar sounding words that are activated during recognition is a powerful predictor of performance on auditory targets. Words with few competitors are processed more quickly and accurately than words with many competitors. In the present study, we examined the contribution of the competitor set size in determining the magnitude of the inhibitory priming effect. The data show that the priming effect is stronger when word targets have few competitors. This result supports the view of direct competition between lexical candidates.
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