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A time course view of sentence priming effects
Stephen T Paul1, George Kellas
1Robert Morris University, 6001 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108-1189, USA. paul@rmu.edu
Journal of Psycholinguistic Research
|October 20, 2004
Summary
Context immediately influences word meaning activation during reading. However, subordinate meanings show sustained processing, suggesting strategic interpretation refinement after initial activation.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psycholinguistics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Understanding how context influences word meaning activation is crucial for reading comprehension.
- Previous research indicates immediate context-sensitive activation of word meanings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the time course of meaning activation and priming effects during reading.
- To differentiate between immediate and sustained effects of context on word meaning activation.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments used homograph sentences to bias dominant and subordinate meanings.
- Participants performed immediate and delayed naming tasks to assess meaning activation at different time points.
- Interstimulus interval was kept at 0 ms.
Main Results:
- Immediate naming confirmed initial context-sensitive meaning activation.
- Delayed naming showed minimal post-activation influence for dominant meanings.
- Subordinate meanings demonstrated sustained processing, indicating continued interpretation.
Conclusions:
- Context exerts immediate, automatic effects on initial word meaning activation.
- Subsequent processing involves strategic refinement and integration of sentence meaning.
- Sustained activation of subordinate meanings highlights their role in nuanced interpretation.