ARE FALSE RECOGNITIONS INFLUENCED BY PRERECOGNITION PROCESSING

Lexical activation is a core process in models of spoken word recognit ion. Specific words activated are candidates, with degree of activatio n determined by the match with sensory information. Once identified, l exical activation shifts to provide a meaningful representation, norma lly through activation of semantically related words. Activated words; Ire assumed to acquire familiarity as a result of being activated, pro viding a basis for memories, both real and imagined. Three experiments showed a direct relationship between number of false recognitions and their presumed degree of activation. Results converge with those from spoken word recognition in implicating lexical activation during earl y stages of processing. For recognition memory, the message is that pr erecognition lexical processing should be included in the memory equat ion.