title: Nonword repetition in lexical decision: support for two opposing processes.
abstract: We tested and confirmed the hypothesis that the prior presentation of nonwords in lexical decision is the net result of two opposing processes: (1) a relatively fast inhibitory process based on global familiarity; and (2) a relatively slow facilitatory process based on the retrieval of specific episodic information. In three studies, we manipulated speed-stress to influence the balance between the two processes. Experiment 1 showed item-specific improvement for repeated nonwords in a standard "respond-when-ready" lexical decision task. Experiment 2 used a 400-ms deadline procedure and showed performance for nonwords to be unaffected by up to four prior presentations. In Experiment 3 we used a signal-to-respond procedure with variable time intervals and found negative repetition priming for repeated nonwords. These results can be accounted for by dual-process models of lexical decision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ej@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Eric-Jan
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Wagenmakers
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zeelenberg
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steyvers
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shiffrin
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raaijmakers
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D011939:Mental Recall; D011930:Reaction Time; D011932:Reading; D012660:Semantics