Abstract
The boundary paradigm, in combination with parafoveal masks, is the main technique for studying parafoveal preprocessing during reading. The rationale is that the masks (e.g., strings of X's) prevent parafoveal preprocessing, but do not interfere with foveal processing. A recent study, however, raised doubts about the neutrality of parafoveal masks. In the present study, we explored this issue by means of fixation-related brain potentials (FRPs). Two FRP conditions presented rows of five words. The task of the participant was to judge whether the final word of a list was a “new” word, or whether it was a repeated (i.e., “old”) word. The critical manipulation was that the final word was X-masked during parafoveal preview in one condition, whereas another condition presented a valid preview of the word. In two additional event-related brain potential (ERP) conditions, the words were presented serially with no parafoveal preview available; in one of the conditions with a fixed timing, in the other word presentation was self-paced by the participants. Expectedly, the valid-preview FRP condition elicited the shortest processing times. Processing times did not differ between the two ERP conditions indicating that “cognitive readiness” during self-paced processing can be ruled out as an alternative explanation for differences in processing times between the ERP and the FRP conditions. The longest processing times were found in the X-mask FRP condition indicating that parafoveal X-masks interfere with foveal word recognition.
Highlights
Most of what we know about parafoveal preprocessing is based on eye movement studies which administered the invisible boundary technique (Rayner, 1975)
If the processing times are shorter in the experimental condition than in the baseline-condition, the standard interpretation is that useful information from the parafoveal preview was extracted during parafoveal preprocessing
The group means of the median response times of the participants were 887 and 962 ms in the valid and the X-masked fixation-related brain potentials (FRPs) condition, and 955 and 1016 ms in the fixed-pace and the self-paced event-related brain potential (ERP) condition, respectively
Summary
Most of what we know about parafoveal preprocessing is based on eye movement studies which administered the invisible boundary technique (Rayner, 1975). Central to the present study is a variant of the boundary paradigm during which the parafoveal preview is masked In this kind of experimentation, a parafoveal preview is presented which is either valid, that is, identical to the target word or partially valid (e.g., preview: vievcn or viewXX—target: viewer). If the processing times are shorter in the experimental condition than in the baseline-condition, the standard interpretation is that useful information from the parafoveal preview was extracted during parafoveal preprocessing. This information may assist foveal processing of the target word.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
