Phonological and associative inhibition in the early stages of English word identification: Evidence from backward masking

The role of phonological information in English word identification and the activation pattern of phonological and associative dimensions were investi gated with a backward-masking paradigm. Mask type (graphemic, homophonic, a ssociative, unrelated word control, and nonletter #-baseline) and target ex posure duration were manipulated. Graphemic and homophonic but not associat ive masks influenced target recognition at 28 ms, and homophonic masks inhi bited recognition relative to graphemic masks. At 42 ms, homophonic masks f acilitated recognition, and associates inhibited, rather than enhanced, rec ognition relative to word controls. These results suggest that phonological computation occurs before associative computation and that phonological in hibition arises from lexical competition. The phonological and associative inhibitory effects are interpreted in terms of the center-surround perceptu al principle. In this interpretation, backward-masking conditions cause obs ervers to seek orthographic rather than phonological codes.