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Updated: May 4, 2026

Interaction between Phonological and Semantic Processes in Visual Word Recognition using Electrophysiology
Published on: June 29, 2021
Error-related negativities during spelling judgments expose orthographic knowledge
Lindsay N Harris1, Charles A Perfetti1, Benjamin Rickles2
1Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, 3939 O'Hara St., Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
Error-related negativities (ERNs) during spelling decisions reveal individual differences in lexical knowledge. Larger ERNs indicate greater influence of phonology and orthography in spelling, highlighting unique contributions of spelling knowledge.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psycholinguistics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Individual differences in lexical knowledge impact cognitive processes.
- Error-related negativities (ERNs) are electrophysiological markers of error detection.
- Understanding the neural basis of spelling decisions is crucial for reading research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if ERNs during spelling decisions reflect individual differences in lexical knowledge.
- To examine the influence of phonological and orthographic information on ERNs during spelling.
- To demonstrate the utility of ERNs in assessing spelling and reading abilities.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted involving spelling decisions.
- ERNs were recorded using electroencephalography (EEG).
- Participants' spelling knowledge and reading abilities were assessed using independent measures.
Main Results:
- ERNs were elicited during spelling decisions and correlated with spelling knowledge.
- Larger ERNs were observed when misspelled words altered phonology compared to those preserving it.
- ERN magnitudes consistently correlated with assessments of lexical knowledge, reading, and spelling ability.
Conclusions:
- Spelling decisions elicit ERNs that reflect phonological and orthographic processing.
- ERNs serve as a valuable tool for uncovering individual differences in lexical knowledge.
- The findings underscore the interconnectedness of orthographic, semantic, and phonological knowledge components.
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