Visual and phonological codes in letter and word recognition: Evidence from incremental priming

Critical issues in letter and word priming were investigated using the nove l incremental priming technique. This technique adds a parametric manipulat ion of prime duration (or prime intensity) to the traditional design of a f ast masked priming study. By doing so, additional information on the time c ourse and nature of priming effects can be obtained. In Experiment 1, cross -case letter priming (a-A) was investigated in both alphabetic decision (le tter/nonletter classification) and letter naming. In Experiment 2, cross-ca se word priming was investigated in lexical decision and naming. Whereas le tter priming in alphabetic decision was most strongly determined by visual overlap between prime and target, word priming in lexical decision was faci litated by both orthographic and phonological information. Orthographic act ivation was stronger and occurred earlier than phonological activation. In letter and word naming, in contrast, priming effects were most strongly det ermined by phonological/articulatory information. Differences and similarit ies between letter and word recognition are discussed in the light of the i ncremental priming data.