Phonological Priming by Masked Nonword Primes in the Lexical Decision Task

Abstract

The pseudohomophone test is whether the processing of a word target can be facilitated by a masked homophonic nonword prime independent of the visual similarity between them. The significance of the test is in respect to the hypothesized contributions of phonological and orthographic codes within dual-route theories. Using the mask–prime–target presentation sequence and prime durations typical of form priming experiments (e.g., 57 ms), we found that pseudohomophone primes (e.g., KLIP) reduced lexical decision times to targets in dense neighborhoods (e.g.,clip) relative to visually similar control primes (e.g., PLIP). We also found superior pseudohomophonic priming at a prime duration (29 ms) previously considered too brief for the emergence of phonological codes. The basis for these successful pseudohomophone tests in English was overall phonological similarity of prime and target rather than common onsets, rimes, or number of overlapping letters. Discussion focused on the need for models of visual word recognition in which phonology assumes the leading role.