Priming lexical neighbors of spoken words: Effects of competition and inhibition

Abstract

Two experiments employing an auditory priming paradigm were conducted to test predictions of the Neighborhood Activation Model of spoken word recognition (Luce & Pisoni, 1989, . Manuscript under review). Acoustic-phonetic similarity, neighborhood densities, and frequencies of prime and target words were manipulated. In Experiment 1, priming with low frequency, phonetically related spoken words inhibited target recognition, as predicted by the Neighborhood Activation Model. In Experiment 2, the same prime-target pairs were presented with a longer inter-stimulus interval and the effects of priming were eliminated. In both experiments, predictions derived from the Neighborhood Activation Model regarding the effects of neighborhood density and word frequency were supported. The results are discussed in terms of competing activation of lexical neighbors and the dissociation of activation and frequency in spoken word recognition.

Time Course of Frequency Effects in Spoken-Word Recognition: Evidence from Eye Movements

“…We compared three different implementations of frequency: frequency operating on resting-activation levels, frequency operating on connection weights, and frequency applied in a postactivation decision rule, as suggested by Luce and colleagues in the NAM (Goldinger et al, 1989;Luce, 1986;Luce & Pisoni, 1998). In each of these simulations, frequency is viewed as a central component of lexical access; that is, frequency plays a role as soon as lexical candidates become active (this is described in more detail below).…”

“…When frequency is incorporated into the activation component of an interactive activation model like TRACE, its effects percolate throughout the system. In contrast, if frequency only comes into play at a postactivation decision stage, its effects will be confined to this decision stage, and Goldinger et al (1989) predicted that these two implementations ought to have very different results. The ramifications of the two implementations are complex enough that simulations are called for to test in what ways they are different.…”

“…Note that this implementation is somewhat inconsistent with the way the NAM has been described by Luce and colleagues. According to Goldinger et al (1989), in the NAM, ''the effects of frequency are not realized until the selection phase of the recognition process [. .…”

“…The second empirical argument comes from studies examining phonological priming. Goldinger et al (1989) reported trends for low-frequency primes to generate stronger inhibitory priming than high-frequency primes. They used the NAM to explain this result.…”

“…Superior performance on high-frequency words may be observed either in the speed of the response when the stimulus information is sufficient to support accurate performance, as in most reactiontime paradigms (e.g., Marslen-Wilson, 1987) or in the accuracy of the response when the stimulus is degraded (e.g., Luce, 1986;Goldinger, Luce, & Pisoni, 1989).…”