Sequential effects in lexical decision: tests of compound-cue retrieval theory.

According to compound-cue retrieval theories, responses in lexical decision are determined by a passive process that matches a compound of the items in short-term memory against all of the information in long-term memory. Because responses depend on other items in short-term memory in addition to the target item about which a lexical decision is required, compound-cue theories must predict sequential effects and priming effects. For example, a nonword preceding a target should slow responses to the target, and a prime word related to a target word can affect responses to the target even when another item intervenes between them. In this article, the results of 4 experiments are presented and sequential effects are shown to be in accord with compound-cue theory.