Visual word identification: Special-purpose mechanisms for the identification of open and closed class items?

Abstract

Bradley and Garrett (1983) proposed that separate specialized devices subserve the identification of open and closed class items in the left hemisphere, whereas only a single device subserves word identification in the right hemisphere. In this paper, an experiment is described that examined performance on open versus closed class items using Bradley and Garrett’s stimulus set under conditions of foveal presentation. The results do not support the hypothesis that class-specific devices underlie word identification in intact subjects. © 1988, The Psychonomic Soceity, Inc.. All rights reserved.