scholarly journals Discovering the Brain Stages of Lexical Decision: Behavioral Effects Originate from a Single Neural Decision Process

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hermine S. Berberyan ◽  
Hedderik van Rijn ◽  
Jelmer P Borst
Keyword(s):  
Lexical Decision ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Decision Process ◽  
Word Identification ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Behavioral Differences ◽  
Lexical Information ◽  
Multivariate Pattern ◽  
Study Participants

Lexical decision (LD) – judging whether a sequence of letters constitutes a word – has been widely investigated. In a typical lexical decision task (LDT), participants are asked to respond whether a sequence of letters is an actual word or a nonword. Although behavioral differences between types of words/nonwords have been robustly detected in LDT, there is an ongoing discussion about the exact cognitive processes that underlie the word identification process in this task. To obtain data-driven evidence on the underlying processes, we recorded electroencephalographic (EEG) data and applied a novel machine-learning method, hidden semi-Markov model multivariate pattern analysis (HsMM-MVPA). In the current study, participants performed an LDT in which we varied the frequency of words (high, low frequency) and “wordlikeness” of non-words (pseudowords, random non-words). The results revealed that models with six processing stages accounted best for the data in all conditions. While most stages were shared, Stage 5 differed between conditions. Together, these results indicate that the differences in word frequency and lexicality effects are driven by a single cognitive processing stage. Based on its latency and topology, we interpret this stage as a Decision process during which participants discriminate between words and nonwords using activated lexical information.

Morpheme frequency effects in Dutch complex word reading: A developmental perspective

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUDO VERHOEVEN ◽  
ROB SCHREUDER
Keyword(s):  
Lexical Decision ◽  
Lexical Decision Task ◽  
Word Reading ◽  
Word Identification ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Word Form ◽  
Word Forms ◽  
Grade 3 ◽  
Complex Words

ABSTRACTThis study examined to what extent advanced and beginning readers, including dyslexic readers of Dutch, make use of morphological access units in the reading of polymorphemic words. Therefore, experiments were carried out in which the role of singular root form frequency in reading plural word forms was investigated in a lexical decision task with both adults and children. Twenty-three adult readers, 37 8-year-old children from Grade 3, 43 11-year-old children from Grade 6, and 33 11-year-old dyslexic readers were presented with a lexical decision task in which we contrasted plural word forms with a high versus low frequency of the singular root form. For the adults, it was found that the accuracy and speed of lexical decision is determined by the surface frequency of the plural word form. The frequency of the constituent root form played a role as well, but in the low-frequency plural words only. Furthermore, a strong developmental effect regarding the accuracy and speed of reading plural word forms was found. An effect of plural word form frequency on word identification was evidenced in all groups. The singular root form frequency also had an impact of the reading of the plural word forms. In the normal reading and dyslexic children, plurals with a high-frequency singular root form were read more accurately and faster than plurals with a low singular root frequency. It can be concluded that constituent morphemes have an impact on the reading of polymorphemic words. The results can be explained in the light of a word experience model leaving room for morphological constituency to play a role in the lexical access of complex words as a function of reading skill and experience and word and morpheme frequency.

scholarly journals The Omission of Accent Marks Does Not Hinder Word Recognition: Evidence From Spanish

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Marcet ◽  
María Fernández-López ◽  
Melanie Labusch ◽  
Manuel Perea
Keyword(s):  
Word Recognition ◽  
Lexical Decision ◽  
Lexical Decision Task ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Word Identification ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Similar Response ◽  
Opposite Pattern ◽  
Semantic Categorization ◽  
Blocked Design

Recent research has found that the omission of accent marks in Spanish does not produce slower word identification times in go/no-go lexical decision and semantic categorization tasks [e.g., cárcel (prison) = carcel], thus suggesting that vowels like á and a are represented by the same orthographic units during word recognition and reading. However, there is a discrepant finding with the yes/no lexical decision task, where the words with the omitted accent mark produced longer response times than the words with the accent mark. In Experiment 1, we examined this discrepant finding by running a yes/no lexical decision experiment comparing the effects for words and non-words. Results showed slower response times for the words with omitted accent mark than for those with the accent mark present (e.g., cárcel < carcel). Critically, we found the opposite pattern for non-words: response times were longer for the non-words with accent marks (e.g., cárdil > cardil), thus suggesting a bias toward a “word” response for accented items in the yes/no lexical decision task. To test this interpretation, Experiment 2 used the same stimuli with a blocked design (i.e., accent mark present vs. omitted in all items) and a go/no-go lexical decision task (i.e., respond only to “words”). Results showed similar response times to words regardless of whether the accent mark was omitted (e.g., cárcel = carcel). This pattern strongly suggests that the longer response times to words with an omitted accent mark in yes/no lexical decision experiments are a task-dependent effect rather than a genuine reading cost.

Lexical access in mild cognitive impairment

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Taler ◽  
Shanna Kousaie ◽  
Christine Sheppard
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Lexical Decision ◽  
Lexical Processing ◽  
Contextual Information ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Unrelated Word ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Frequency Effects ◽  
Lexical Activation

We examined the use of sentence context in lexical processing in aging and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Younger and older adults and participants with MCI completed a lexical decision task in which target words were primed by sentences biasing a related or unrelated word (e.g., prime: “The baby put the spoon in his ______”, biased word: “mouth”, related target: “KISS”, unrelated target: “LEASH”). Biased items were of high or low frequency. All participants responded more quickly when the biased word was of high than low frequency, regardless of whether the target and biased word were related. Frequency effects were stronger in related than unrelated stimuli, and MCI participants – but not controls – responded more slowly when the target was related to a low-frequency word than when it was unrelated. We hypothesize that this effect results from slowed lexical activation in MCI: low frequency expected words are not completely activated when the target word is presented, leading to increased competition between the expected and target items, and resultant slowing in lexical decision on the target. These results indicate that MCI participants can use contextual information to make predictions about upcoming lexical items, and that information about lexical associations remains available in MCI.

scholarly journals Measuring reading ability in the web-browser with a lexical decision task

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason D. Yeatman ◽  
Kenny An Tang ◽  
Patrick M. Donnelly ◽  
Maya Yablonski ◽  
Mahalakshmi Ramamurthy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lexical Decision ◽  
Lexical Decision Task ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
Word Identification ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Web Browser ◽  
Standardized Measures ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Ability Measure ◽  
The Web

AbstractAn accurate model of the factors that contribute to individual differences in reading ability depends on data collection in large, diverse and representative samples of research participants. However, that is rarely feasible due to the constraints imposed by standardized measures of reading ability which require test administration by trained clinicians or researchers. Here we explore whether a simple, two-alternative forced choice, time limited lexical decision task (LDT), self-delivered through the web-browser, can serve as an accurate and reliable measure of reading ability. We found that performance on the LDT is highly correlated with scores on standardized measures of reading ability such as the Woodcock-Johnson Letter Word Identification test administered in the lab (r = 0.91, disattenuated r = 0.94). Importantly, the LDT reading ability measure is highly reliable (r = 0.97). After optimizing the list of words and pseudowords based on item response theory, we found that a short experiment with 76 trials (2-3 minutes) provides a reliable (r = 0.95) measure of reading ability. Thus, the self-administered, Rapid Online Assessment of Reading ability (ROAR) developed here overcomes the constraints of resource-intensive, in-person reading assessment, and provides an efficient and automated tool for effective online research into the mechanisms of reading (dis)ability.

scholarly journals Neural Evidence of Language Membership Control in Bilingual Word Recognition: An fMRI Study of Cognate Processing in Chinese–Japanese Bilinguals

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Che Hsieh ◽  
Hyeonjeong Jeong ◽  
Motoaki Sugiura ◽  
Ryuta Kawashima
Keyword(s):  
Word Recognition ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Word Processing ◽  
Word Identification ◽  
Response Competition ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Identification System ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Decision System ◽  
Language Membership

This study aims to examine the neural mechanisms of resolving response competition during bilingual word recognition in the context of language intermixing. During fMRI scanning, Chinese–Japanese unbalanced bilinguals were required to perform a second-language (L2) lexical decision task composed of cognates, interlingual homographs, matched control words from both Chinese (first language) and Japanese (L2), and pseudowords. Cognate word processing showed longer reaction times and greater activation in the supplementary motor area (SMA) than L2 control word processing. In light of the orthographic and semantic overlap of cognates, these results reflect the cognitive processing involved in resolving response conflicts enhanced by the language membership of non-target language during bilingual word recognition. A significant effect of L2 proficiency was also observed only in the SMA, which is associated with the task decision system. This finding supports the bottom-up process in the BIA+ model and the Multilink model. The task/decision system receives the information from the word identification system, making appropriate responses during bilingual word recognition.

scholarly journals T-value and mutual information as measures of the association strength in Serbian language

Psihologija ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena Lisac ◽  
Petar Milin
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Mutual Information ◽  
Lexical Decision ◽  
Lexical Decision Task ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Word Processing ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Association Strength ◽  
Facilitation Effect ◽  
Response Latencies

Since the study of Meyer and Schvaneveldt (1971), a large number of researches have shown facilitation effect in cognitive processing of a given word when it is preceded by a semantically (i.e. associatively) related word. In this study, we examined influence of association strength between context and target on visual word processing in Serbian language. Primary goal was to test cognitive relevance of the t-value and mutual information (MI) as measures of the association strength. The results showed that the mutual information affects response latencies in the visual lexical decision task: the higher the mutual information for two words (bigram), the shorter the reaction time. Contrariwise, cognitive relevance of the t-value as a measure of the words' association strength was not confirmed.

Measuring reading ability in the web-browser with a lexical decision task

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason D Yeatman ◽  
Kenny An Tang ◽  
Patrick M. Donnelly ◽  
Maya Yablonski
Keyword(s):  
Lexical Decision ◽  
Lexical Decision Task ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
Word Identification ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Web Browser ◽  
Standardized Measures ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Ability Measure ◽  
The Web

An accurate model of the factors that contribute to individual differences in reading ability depends on data collection in large, diverse and representative samples of research participants. However, that is rarely feasible due to the constraints imposed by standardized measures of reading ability which require test administration by trained clinicians or researchers. Here we explore whether a simple, two-alternative forced choice, time limited lexical decision task (LDT), self-delivered through the web-browser, can serve as an accurate and reliable measure of reading ability. We found that performance on the LDT is highly correlated with scores on standardized measures of reading ability such as the Woodcock-Johnson Letter Word Identification test administered in the lab (r = 0.91, disattenuated r = 0.94) . Importantly, the LDT reading ability measure is highly reliable (r = 0.97). After optimizing the list of words and pseudowords based on item response theory, we found that a short experiment with 80 words (2-3 minutes) provides a reliable (r = 0.95) measure of reading ability. Thus, the self-administered, rapid online assessment of reading ability (ROAR) developed here overcomes the constraints of resource-intensive, in-person reading assessment, and provides an efficient and automated tool for effective online research into the mechanisms of reading (dis)ability.

Masked onset priming in lexical decision

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-113
Author(s):  
Karly van Gorp ◽  
Eliane Segers ◽  
Ludo Verhoeven
Keyword(s):  
Lexical Decision ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Word Identification ◽  
Second Graders ◽  
Beginning Readers ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Sublexical Processing ◽  
Speech Planning ◽  
Naming Tasks

In masked onset priming (MOPE) there is an overlap between prime and target in the onset. This has been shown to lead to faster word recognition of the target in adults in naming tasks but not in lexical decision tasks. To take a developmental stance, the present study investigated MOPE of various onsets in 30 adults and 74 second graders in a lexical decision task. For adults we found no effects for MOPE in lexical decision, which is congruent with the literature. However, results revealed priming effects for the beginning readers: accuracy scores were higher and response times were shorter for both words and pseudowords when there was an overlap of the onset between prime and target. The effects that we found may reflect either sublexical processing or speech planning, leaving it for future research to reach a firm conclusion with regard to underlying processes. Based on our findings, it can tentatively be assumed that beginning readers are susceptible to MOPE in lexical decision because of the fact that their word identification is far from automated.

Repetition in visual word identification: Benefits and costs

2014 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 1986-2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer S. Burt ◽  
Tahli J. Kipps ◽  
Julian R. Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Lexical Decision ◽  
Target Stimulus ◽  
Word Identification ◽  
Stimulus Onset ◽  
Perceptual Identification ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Lexical Representations ◽  
Visual Word Identification ◽  
Benefits And Costs ◽  
Prime Target

University students performed lexical tasks with visually presented target words after the presentation of an identical or unrelated prime, at short (80–120 ms) or longer (410–710 ms) prime–target stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs). Experiment 1 showed perceptual identification benefits in vocal responding at a short SOA that were reduced (accuracy) or reversed (latency) at a longer SOA. Experiment 2 showed a transition from a repetition benefit to a cost over 3 SOAs in a target-masked version of the lexical decision task (LDT; target displayed for only 141 ms). In Experiment 3 the repetition cost was replicated at a 530-ms SOA in the LDT with masked targets, but a repetition benefit was observed in the conventional LDT (target displayed until response). The dependence of repetition costs on target masking is more consistent with biases based on episodic confusions than refractoriness of lexical representations.

scholarly journals The N400's 3 As: Association, Automaticity, Attenuation (and Some Semantics Too)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Michelle Buchanan ◽  
John E. Scofield ◽  
Nathan Nunley
Keyword(s):  
Lexical Decision ◽  
Lexical Decision Task ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Response Latency ◽  
Search Task ◽  
Unrelated Word ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Latency Data ◽  
Search Tasks ◽  
Letter Search

The N400 waveform carries new insight into the nature of linguistic processing and may shed light into the automaticity of priming word relationships. We investigated semantic and associative word pairs in classic lexical decision and letter search tasks to examine their differences in cognitive processing. Normed database information was used to create orthogonal semantic and associative word relationships to clearly define N400 waveforms and priming for these pairs. Participants showed N400 reduction for related word pairs, both semantic and associative, in comparison to unrelated word pairs for the lexical decision task, indicating automatic access for both types of relatedness. For a letter search task, the N400 showed differences between nonwords and other stimuli but no attenuation for related pairs. Response latency data indicated associative priming in both tasks with semantic priming also found in the letter search task. These results help discern possible automatic and controlled processes occurring during these tasks, as the N400 may show automatic processing during the lexical decision task, while the response latency data may provide evidence for controlled processing during the letter search task.

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