Implicit word activation during pre-recognition processing influences correct recognition and estimates of...

Area of Science:

• Cognitive psychology
• Psycholinguistics
• Auditory perception

Background:

• False recognition occurs when individuals incorrectly identify non-studied words as previously encountered.
• Phonological similarity between studied words and lures can increase false recognition.
• Implicit activation during word recognition is a proposed mechanism for phonological effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if pre-recognition processing enhances word familiarity and recognition.
• To examine the role of phonological similarity and repetition in spoken word identification.
• To test the implicit activation mechanism in explaining phonological similarity effects on false recognition.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments were conducted involving spoken word identification tasks.
• Participants studied words and phonologically related associates.
• Repetition frequency of phonological associates during study was manipulated.

Main Results:

• Correct recognition and frequency estimates of target words were enhanced by multiple presentations of phonological associates.
• This enhancement was observed when associates shared initial phonemes with target words.
• Results confirmed predictions derived from the implicit activation mechanism.

Conclusions:

• Implicit activation during the stimulus discovery phase of spoken word identification influences familiarity.
• Repetition of phonologically similar words strengthens memory representations.
• Findings support the role of implicit processing in phonological effects on recognition memory.