Semantic Priming Increases and Repetition Priming Decreases Apparent Stimulus Duration

Abstract

Abstract Relative perceptual fluency refers to perceptual enhancement of a stimulus on subsequent recognition testing as a consequence of prior study of that stimulus. We attempted to connect the mechanism of semantic priming with perceptual fluency and to confirm the effects of priming on identification accuracy. The method involved sequential computer presentation of pairs of words under three conditions: unrelated pairing, semantic priming, and repetition priming. Compared to unrelated targets, semantically related targets had longer apparent durations (and greater identification accuracy). Repeated targets had shorter apparent durations (and poorer accuracy) than unrelated control targets had. Semantic priming therefore affected the fluency with which target words were perceived and increased apparent duration. Literal repetition of a word may diminish processing of the second presentation.