Effects of homograph meaning frequency on semantic satiation

Can J Exp Psychol. 2013 Sep;67(3):175-87. doi: 10.1037/a0033838.

Abstract

This study examined the effects of homograph meaning frequency on semantic satiation within an ambiguity resolution paradigm. Participants received 3 homograph conditions: the concordant (QUICK-FAST-SPEEDY), discordant (HUNGER-FAST-SPEEDY) and neutral (CEILING-FAST-SPEEDY). On each trial, a prime (e.g., QUICK) was presented for various numbers of repetitions. Afterward, the prime was removed and participants made relatedness judgments about a homograph and target. On half of the trials, the prime was related to a high-frequency meaning of the homograph, and on the other half of the trials, the prime was related to a low-frequency meaning. The concordant condition yielded evidence of semantic satiation across meaning frequency conditions (QUICK-FAST-SPEEDY), but the discordant condition only yielded evidence of semantic satiation when the prime activated a subordinate meaning of the homograph (HUNGER-FAST-SPEEDY).

MeSH terms

  • Association*
  • Decision Making / physiology*
  • Female
  • Habituation, Psychophysiologic / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Inhibition, Psychological*
  • Male
  • Reaction Time
  • Repetition Priming
  • Semantics*
  • Students
  • Universities
  • Vocabulary