ORTHOGRAPHIC PROCESSING IN VISUAL WORD RECOGNITION - A MULTIPLE READ-OUT MODEL

A model of orthographic processing is described that postulates read-o ut from different information dimensions, determined by variable respo nse criteria set on these dimensions. Performance in a perceptual iden tification task is simulated as the percentage of trials on which a no isy criterion set on the dimension of single word detector activity is reached. Two additional criteria set on the dimensions of total lexic al activity and time from stimulus onset are hypothesized to be operat ional in the lexical decision task. These additional criteria flexibly adjust to changes in stimulus material and task demands, thus account ing for strategic influences on performance in this task. The model un ifies results obtained in response-limited and data-limited paradigms and helps resolve a number of inconsistencies in the experimental lite rature that cannot be accommodated by other current models of visual w ord recognition.