Ambiguity and visual word recognition: Can feedback explain both homophone and polysemy effects?

In a lexical-decision task (LDT), Y. Hino and S. J. Lupker (see record 1996-06577-001) reported a polysemy effect (faster response times for polysemous words [e.g., BANK]), and attributed this effect to enhanced feedback from the semantic system to orthographic units, for polysemous words. Using the same task, P. M. Pexman et al (in review) reported a homophone effect (slower response times for homophonic words [e.g., MAID]) and attributed this effect to inconsistent feedback from the phonological system to orthographic units, for homophones. This article tests two predictions derived from this feedback explanation: Polysemy and homophone effects should (1) co-occur in a standard LDT (with pseudoword foils) and (2) both be larger with pseudohomophones (e.g., BRANE) as foils in LDT. The results support both predictions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)