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Spatial attention as a necessary preliminary to early processes in reading
Derek Besner1, Evan F Risko, Nathan Sklair
1Psychology Department, University of Waterloo, Ontario. dbesner@watarts.uwaterloo.ca
Summary
Spatial attention is necessary for visual word recognition, not just facilitative. Experiments showed repetition priming only occurred when attention was not fully cued, challenging theories that downplay attention's role.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Two theories exist on the necessity of spatial attention for visual word recognition.
- One posits spatial attention is required, while the other suggests it's facilitative but not essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally test whether spatial attention is a necessary condition for visual word recognition.
- To investigate the role of cue validity in spatial attention's effect on word recognition.
Main Methods:
- Operationalized spatial attention using spatial precues affecting target word naming times.
- Presented a masked prime word before the target word.
- Manipulated cue validity (50% vs. 100%) across different experiments.
Main Results:
- Repetition priming was observed when the prime appeared in an uncued location with 50% cue validity.
- Repetition priming was absent with 100% cue validity.
- Results indicate visual word recognition is dependent on spatial attention.
Conclusions:
- Findings contradict theories suggesting spatial attention is not essential for visual word recognition.
- The distribution of spatial attention across locations is influenced by cue validity.