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Experimental Aging Research
An International Journal Devoted to the Scientific Study of the Aging Process
Volume 21, 1995 - Issue 2
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Original Articles

Scope of Word Meaning Activation During Sentence Processing by Young and Older Adults

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Pages 123-142 | Published online: 27 Sep 2007
 

Abstract

In a naming experiment, we examined word meaning activation on-line during sentence processing by younger and older adults. Sentences were biased to either the most or least frequently used meaning of a sentence-final ambiguous word. In order to determine the scope of initial meaning activation, targets represented either high- or low-salient semantic relationships to a single sense of the ambiguous word in context. Both age groups evidenced context-dependent activation of word meaning. In addition, context activated a wide scope of meaning that included both high- and low-salience aspects of the ambiguous words. These results contradict predictions based on the inhibition deficit hypothesis (Hasher & Zacks, 1988). However, they are compatible with an interactive activation model of language comprehension that does not discriminate among age groups.

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