JTRACE: A reimplementation and extension of the TRACE model of speech perception and spoken word recognition

Abstract

This article describes jTRACE, a freely available, cross-platform Java reimplementation of the TRACE model of spoken word recognition. The goal of the reimplementation is to facilitate the use of simulations by researchers who may not have the skills or time necessary to use or extend the original C implementation. In this article, we report a large-scale validation project, in which we have replicated a number of important previous simulations, and then we describe several new features in jTRACE designed to help researchers conduct original TRACE research, as well as to replicate earlier findings. These features include visualization tools, powerful scripting, built-in data graphing, adjustable levels of external and internal noise, and adjustable lexical characteristics, such as frequency of occurrence. Functions for saving and reloading entire simulations facilitate archiving, sharing, and replication and also make jTRACE ideal for educational use, since it comes bundled with several important simulations. jTRACE can be downloaded from magnuson.psy.uconn.edu/jtrace.