Abstract
Letters in the center of vision were masked during readers’ eye fixations. Although Experiment 1 suggested that letters are processed sequentially, Experiment 2 demonstrated that the results were due to the fact that letters fixated on fixation n receive preliminary processing on fixation n-1 when they are in parafoveal vision. When no parafoveal information was available, the results indicated that letters are processed in parallel.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Geyer, J. J. (1970). Models of perceptual processes in reading. In H. Singer & R. B. Ruddell (Eds.), Theoretical models and processes of reading. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
McConkie, G. W., & Rayner, K. (1975). The span of the effective stimulus during a fixation in reading. Perception & Psychophysics, 17, 578–586.
Rayner, K., Inhoff, A. W., Morrison, R. E., Slowiaczek, M. L., & Bertera, J. H. (1981). Masking of foveal and parafoveal vision during eye fixations in reading. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance, 7, 167–179.
Rayner, K., Well, A. D., & Pollatsek, A. (1980). Asymmetry of the effective visual field in reading. Perception & Psychophysics, 27, 537–544.
Rayner, K., Well, A. D., Pollatsek, A., & Bertera, J. H. (1982). The availability of useful information to the right of fixation in reading. Perception & Psychophysics, 31, 537–550.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by Grant BNS-8609336 from the National Science Foundation.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Slowiaczek, M.L., Rayner, K. Sequential masking during eye fixations in reading. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 25, 175–178 (1987). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330320
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330320