Haskins Publications

Number	651
Year	1988
Drawer	12
Entry Date	11/15/1999
Authors	Frost, R.,& Repp, B. H., & Katz, L.
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Publication	Journal of Memory and Language, 27, 741-755.
url	http://www.haskins.yale.edu/Reprints/HL0651.pdf
Abstract	When a spoken word is masked by noise having the same amplitude envelope, Ss report hearing the word more clearly if they see its printed version at the same time. Using signal-detection methodology, the present study investigated whether this subjective impression reflects a change in perceptual sensitivity or in bias. In Exp I, with 36 undergraduates, the matching visual input made the amplitude-modulated masking noise sound more speechlike but did not improve the detectability of the speech. Reaction times (RTs) for correct detections were shorter in the matching condition. In Exp II, with 12 undergraduates, the bias and RT effects were smaller when nonwords were substituted for the words and were absent when white noise was the masking sound. Results support the hypothesis that printed words are immediately translated into an internal representation having speechlike characteristics.
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