Semantic priming with product verification but not production.

Campbell and Reynvoet (2009) found that time to name a single-digit target was about 8 ms faster if preceded by a near prime (±1) compared to a far prime (at least ±3) when prime-digit pairs were interleaved with number comparisons (9↑3; name larger) and not when they were interleaved with multiplication problems (9×3; state product). This is consistent with the claim by previous researchers that magnitude comparison can enable a semantic pathway for digit naming whereas number-fact retrieval can inhibit it. To pursue this, the current study compared priming in the context of multiplication production (9×3=?) versus multiplication verification (e.g., 9×3=24, true or false). Multiplication production, but not verification, may inhibit semantic digit naming to reduce naming-related interference with verbal number production. Indeed, semantic priming of digit naming occurred only in verification and not production blocks. This supports the conclusion that multiplication production can inhibit semantic mediation of digit naming, which is enabled in other number processing tasks (e.g., comparison, verification) that do not compete with naming for verbal number production processes.