LE3 .A278 2019

2019

Newman, Randy Lynn

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Psychology

Psychology

The present study examined the impact of orthographic knowledge on spoken non-word processing using Event Related Potentials (ERPs). The key manipulation in this study involved the use of pseudohomographs (PsHGr), spoken non-words that may be spelled like a word (e.g., the spoken non-word deef can be spelled d-e-e-f or d-e-a-f). Participants made rhyme judgements when presented with a spoken non-word target (e.g., zeef with a long e) that was preceded by one of three spoken primes: A PsHGr prime that rhymed with the target (e.g., deef), whose alternative spelling (e.g., deaf) did not rhyme; a non-pseudohomograph (NonPsHGr) prime (e.g., teef) that rhymed with the target and did not have a spelling consistent with a word; and an unrelated prime (e.g., zoot) that did not rhyme with the target. ERP responses were recorded to presentation of the target. Results revealed a significant rhyme effect as seen in the reduction of the N400, a component associated with phonological priming, to targets that rhymed with the prime. Despite there being a noticeable difference in the N400 amplitude between the pseudohomograph and non-pseudohomograph condition (i.e., an orthographic effect), this difference was not significant. Future research should add to the current sample before drawing firm conclusions as to whether orthography is automatically activated in tasks involving spoken non-words.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3291