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Lexical Decision Task for Studying Written Word Recognition in Adults with and without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: June 25, 2019
Context and spoken word recognition in a novel lexicon
Kathleen Pirog Revill1, Michael K Tanenhaus, Richard N Aslin
1Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, USA. kate.pirog@psych.gatech.edu
Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition
|September 4, 2008
Summary
Semantic context aids spoken word recognition by integrating information continuously. Eye movement studies show context influences word processing without delays predicted by other models.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psycholinguistics
- Computational Linguistics
Background:
- Spoken word recognition involves mapping sounds to lexical candidates.
- The influence of semantic context on this process is debated among different theoretical models.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the temporal dynamics of contextual effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of semantic context in spoken word recognition using novel lexicons.
- To contrast the predictions of three prominent models: restrictive access, access-selection, and continuous integration.
- To analyze eye movement data to understand the real-time processing of spoken words within context.
Main Methods:
- Conducted three eye movement experiments using novel words for actions and shapes.
- Manipulated word frequency, cohort density, and contextual congruency.
- Recorded participants' eye movements while they processed spoken words in different semantic contexts.
Main Results:
- Word frequency and cohort competition influenced spoken word recognition.
- Biasing context increased anticipatory eye movements to congruent referents.
- Context did not consistently reduce competition from non-displayed incompatible words as predicted by some models.
Conclusions:
- Findings support continuous integration models of spoken word recognition.
- Semantic context dynamically influences word recognition processes.
- The temporal unfolding of contextual effects is better explained by continuous integration than by discrete access or selection models.
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