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Pupil-BLAH-metry: cognitive effort in speech planning reflected by pupil dilation
Megan H Papesh1, Stephen D Goldinger
1Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Box 871104, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104, USA.
Attention, Perception & Psychophysics
|January 11, 2012
Summary
Cognitive effort in word processing is frequency-sensitive. Even after naming words, the brain shows heightened activity for lower-frequency words, suggesting attention is needed for lexical access.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psycholinguistics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- A key question in reading research is whether lexical processing demands central attention.
- It is also debated whether these demands are sensitive to word frequency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the allocation of cognitive effort in lexical processing.
- To determine if cognitive demands during word processing are frequency-sensitive.
Main Methods:
- A modified delayed naming procedure was used, measuring pupil dilations and naming latencies.
- Participants performed a dual-task/change procedure with feature-matched low- and high-frequency words.
- A "blah" response on some trials equated speech production demands.
Main Results:
- Differences in pupil dilations were observed as a function of word frequency.
- Frequency-sensitive cognitive demands were evident even after naming responses were issued.
- Pupil dilation indicated greater cognitive effort for low-frequency words.
Conclusions:
- Word perception and/or speech planning requires frequency-sensitive allocation of cognitive resources.
- Lexical processing, particularly for less frequent words, appears to engage attentional mechanisms.
