Simple visual versus lexical decision vocal reaction times of stuttering and normal subjects

Abstract

Simple visual and lexical decision vocal reaction times were obtained for a group of stutterers and were compared with data gathered from normal subjects. Subjects were required to phonate the vowel /a/ when tachistoscopically presented a flash of light (simple task) and a series of concrete nouns (lexical task). The second value minus the first was taken as the lexical decision or processing time. The stutterers' responses were significantly more latent under the lexical decision condition, but not for the simple vocal reaction time experiment. Taken in concert with past results, such findings suggest that stutterers manifest generalized increases in sensory-linguistic processing that may not be bound necessarily to generalized slowing of psychomotor latency.