Reading and detecting color-word stimuli presented at various retinal locations.

Four experiments, using a total of 70 male and female undergraduates, examined the speed and accuracy of reading and detection responses to color-word stimuli presented at retinal locations from the center out to 6 degrees in the right and left visual fields. Reading and detection responses were found to interact with retinal location. For stimuli presented at the farther retinal location, detection responses were quicker and more accurate than reading responses, but the reverse occurred with foveally presented stimuli. The Stroop phenomenon was present in the detection data and was found to be diminished with parafoveal presentation of the stimulus materials. These findings support the peripheral search guidance process of Hochberg's model of reading and provide added evidence of processing variations across retinal location.