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Pathway selection's utility for control of word recognition
1Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-1104, USA.
Summary
Regularity effects in word recognition are influenced by phonological processing pathways. Contrary to predictions, regularity effects were strongest with pseudohomophone nonwords, supporting a resonance model.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psycholinguistics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Word recognition involves lexical and nonlexical processing pathways.
- Assembled phonology, a nonlexical pathway, may be strategically controlled during tasks.
- Previous research suggests regularity effects are reduced when nonlexical processing is disfavored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of assembled phonology in regularity effects during word recognition.
- To test the prediction that regularity effects are reduced when pseudohomophone nonwords are used as foils.
- To examine the interaction between word regularity and nonword lexicality.
Main Methods:
- Three lexical decision experiments were conducted.
- Factorial designs were used, crossing word regularity with nonword lexicality.
- Pseudohomophone nonwords (e.g., 'durt') were employed as foils to disfavor assembled phonology.
Main Results:
- Regularity effects were unexpectedly large and reliable in the pseudohomophone conditions.
- The findings contradicted the initial prediction of reduced regularity effects.
- The observed pattern supported a resonance account of word recognition.
Conclusions:
- Assembled phonology's role in regularity effects is more complex than previously assumed.
- Pseudohomophone nonwords do not necessarily reduce regularity effects; they may enhance them under certain conditions.
- A resonance model provides a better explanation for the observed data in word recognition tasks.