Phonological Processing and the Role of Strategy in Silent Reading: Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence

doi:10.1006/brln.1996.0016

Brain and Language

Volume 52, Issue 2, February 1996, Pages 342-364

https://doi.org/10.1006/brln.1996.0016 Get rights and content

Abstract

To examine the contribution of phonological processing in silent reading, 51 native English speakers made decisions about targets presented either in word pairs or in sentences. The target words were homophonically (plain–plane), orthographically (plane–place), or semantically (plane–jet) related. N200 was enhanced only to homophonic targets, suggesting the use of phonological information in silent reading. Memory load did not affect the N200 amplitude. N400 was enhanced toallsemantically incongruent words and was larger in the word pair condition. Reaction times were influenced by both experimental condition and target relationships; homophonic stimuli elicited the fastest RTs in the word pair condition and the slowest RTs in the sentence condition, suggesting the use of different strategies. Thus, ERP components and behavioral responses registered different aspects of language processing.

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Regular ArticlePhonological Processing and the Role of Strategy in Silent Reading: Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence

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Regular Article
Phonological Processing and the Role of Strategy in Silent Reading: Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence