Early stage visual-orthographic processes predict long-term retention of word form and meaning: A visual encoding training study

• Published in: Journal of neurolinguistics 2013-07, Vol.26 (4), p.440-461
• Main Authors: Cao, Fan, Rickles, Ben, Vu, Marianne, Zhu, Ziheng, Chan, Derek Ho Lung, Harris, Lindsay N., Stafura, Joseph, Xu, Yi, Perfetti, Charles A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chinese; ERP; Learning; Reading; Visual chunking; Writing
• ISSN: 0911-6044; 1873-8052
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroling.2013.01.003

Adult learners of Chinese learned new characters through writing, visual chunking or reading-only. Following training, ERPs were recorded during character recognition tasks, first shortly after the training and then three months later. We hypothesized that the character training effects would be seen in ERP components associated with word recognition and episodic memory. Results confirmed a larger N170 for visual chunking training than other training and a larger P600 for learned characters than novel characters. Another result was a training effect on the amplitude of the P100, which was greater following writing training than other training, suggesting that writing training temporarily lead to increased visual attention to the orthographic forms. Furthermore, P100 amplitude at the first post-test was positively correlated with character recall 3 months later. Thus the marker of early visual attention (P100) was predictive of retention of orthographic knowledge acquired in training. ► Increased N170 for visual chunking training than the other trainings. ► Increased P100 for writing training than the other trainings. ► The amplitude of P100 predicts character recall three months later.