Abstract
Reaction times (RTs) were measured for decisions in a same-different discrimination of successive vowel-consonant nonsense syllables. Averaged data showed that “same” RTs were faster than “different” RTs and that the “different” RT decreased as the number of features (Wickelgren, 1966) by which a pair contrasted increased. For individual phonemic comparisons, two of the dependent variables, P(S I d), or probability of responding “same” to a different trial and the mean correct “different” RT, were related in that the RT increased as P(S I d) increased. The size of the difference between “same” and “different” RTs for a given phonemic contrast was directly related to P(S | d). The difficulty of a comparison, as described by P(S I d) and by the difference between correct “same” and “different” RTs, was explained through a markedness classification of phonemes.
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This research was supported by a grant from NINDS (NS 12501) and by an SRS training grant (44-P-15072).
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Reed, C. Reaction times for a same-different discrimination of vowel-consonant syllables. Perception & Psychophysics 18, 65–70 (1975). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03204088
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03204088