Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
07:26
The Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) Task: A Simple Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate False Memories in the Laboratory
Published on: January 31, 2017
Phonetic-semantic mediated false recognition: does activation fail to spread?
William P Wallace1, Joanna Salapska-Gelleri, Christine L Belz
1University of Nevada, Department of Psychology, Reno 89557, USA. wallace@unr.edu
The American Journal of Psychology
|February 9, 2007
Summary
This study investigated spoken word recognition, finding little evidence of false recognition for semantically related words, contrary to spreading activation models. This suggests distinct phonetic and semantic processing stages in word identification.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psycholinguistics
- Speech Perception
Background:
- Spoken word recognition involves rapid activation of potential word candidates.
- Models of spreading activation predict that semantically related words can be falsely recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether words semantically related to phonologically activated words are falsely recognized.
- To test the predictions of spreading activation models in spoken word recognition.
Main Methods:
- Six experiments were conducted using various methods, including homophones, semantic associates, and a gating procedure.
- Participants performed recognition tasks, with Experiment 6 employing a "most likely new" judgment to enhance sensitivity.
Main Results:
- Recognition errors showed sensitivity to distinct phonetic and semantic processing stages.
- Despite experimental manipulations, there was minimal evidence supporting mediated false recognition.
Conclusions:
- The findings challenge common spreading activation models by demonstrating limited semantic influence on false recognition.
- Spoken word recognition may involve more distinct phonetic and semantic processing than previously assumed.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:18False Memories
False memories represent a cognitive distortion in which individuals recall events that did not happen, or remember them in an altered form. This phenomenon highlights the brain's constructive nature in processing and recalling memories, emphasizing that memory is not a perfect representation of past events but rather a dynamic reconstruction influenced by various factors.
One primary source of false memories is misattribution, where individuals incorrectly associate external information with...
One primary source of false memories is misattribution, where individuals incorrectly associate external information with...
01:10Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon
The tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) phenomenon is a cognitive experience characterized by a temporary inability to retrieve specific information from memory despite having a strong feeling of knowing the information. Although individuals cannot access the target word or detail, they frequently recall related elements, such as its initial letter, syllable count, or context. This partial retrieval often causes frustration, as one might recognize a familiar face or know that a name starts with a specific...
01:24Prosopagnosia
Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...
01:13Nonconscious Mimicry
Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.