Reaction Time Effects Of Related And Unrelated Ambient Semantic Distraction On Picture Identification

Models for understanding effects of sensory distraction on linguistic processing are few. This investigation measured semantically related and unrelated conditions of visual and auditory distraction on picture identification in non-neurologically damaged young adults. Comparisons were made across conditions of quiet, white noise, visual, and auditory distraction for categories of birds, sports, and vegetables. The effect of semantic relatedness varied according to modality of distraction. In this computerized picture identification task, visual distraction semantically related to the target hindered performance more than semantically unrelated visual distraction. Auditory semantic distraction had no significant effect on RT. White noise resulted in faster performance