The recognition potential and word priming.
The effect of priming on the latency of the recognition potential (RP) was tested using rapid stream stimulation. Subjects detected five-letter words in a stream of nonword images. Lifting the right index finger signalled detection of a word. Rapid responses were rewarded and false alarms were penalized. Just before generating an image stream, a computer briefly displayed either the specific target word or or five-letter string that indicated the target was any one of ten previously studied words. Precise target specification was expected to produce more rapid detection than the provision of less definite information. Since the RP was thought to reflect the speed of perception, it was predicted that its latency would be less when the target word was beforehand than when less specific information was provided. The results for 10 subjects confirmed the hypothesis.
Rudell
A P
AP
Department of Physiology State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, New York 11203, USA.
Hua
J
J
D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D011932:Reading