Some characteristics of word encoding

This paper presents the results of a series of experiments using the release from proactive inhibition technique for identifying the salient encoding attributes of words. The technique uses the Brown-Peterson paradigm, but, after three trials on words of one class, a fourth trial is given with words of another class. The power of the class encoding is inferred from the extent of gain (release from PI) found on the shift trial. The studies reported show a high degree of effectiveness for semantic variables; practically no effectiveness for grammatical variables; a moderate amount for physical variables (i.e., figure-ground shift); and varying amounts for other shifts such as word frequency, imagery, language of the presentation to bilingual Ss. Some evidence is also given for the occurrence of simultaneous multiple encoding.