Masked ERP repetition priming in deaf and hearing readers

Karen Emmorey; Phillip J Holcomb; Katherine J Midgley

doi:10.1016/j.bandl.2020.104903

Masked ERP repetition priming in deaf and hearing readers

Brain Lang. 2021 Mar:214:104903. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2020.104903. Epub 2021 Jan 21.

Authors

Karen Emmorey¹, Phillip J Holcomb², Katherine J Midgley²

Affiliations

¹ School of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, CA, USA. Electronic address: kemmorey@sdsu.edu.
² Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, CA, USA.

Abstract

Deaf readers provide unique insights into how the reading circuit is modified by altered linguistic and sensory input. We investigated whether reading-matched deaf and hearing readers (n = 62) exhibit different ERP effects associated with orthographic to phonological mapping (N250) or lexico-semantic processes (N400). In a visual masked priming paradigm, participants performed a go/no-go categorization task; target words were preceded by repeated or unrelated primes. Prime duration and word frequency were manipulated. Hearing readers exhibited typical N250 and N400 priming effects with 50 ms primes (greater negativity for unrelated primes) and smaller effects with 100 ms primes. Deaf readers showed a surprising reversed priming effect with 50 ms primes (greater negativity for related primes), and more typical N250 and N400 effects with 100 ms primes. Correlation results suggested deaf readers with poorer phonological skills drove this effect. We suggest that weak phonological activation may create orthographic "repetition enhancement" or form/lexical competition in deaf readers.

Keywords: Deaf readers; ERPs; Masked priming; N250; N400.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Electroencephalography*
Evoked Potentials
Female
Hearing
Humans
Male
Reading
Repetition Priming*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding