Anagram Solving is Facilitated by Intra- but Not Cross-Modal Priming

Abstract

200 undergraduates had to solve a series of typewritten single-solution anagrams after the presentation of their solution words (primes). Primes were visually (in a typewritten or in a handwritten format) or auditorily presented, and subjects were or not informed about the relationships between primes and anagrams. Analysis showed that visual primes facilitated anagram solution regardless whether typed or handwritten; auditory primes were ineffective for the anagram task. No significant differences between informed and uninformed subjects were found. Data suggested that word models are modality-specific in a mental lexicon even though they do not preserve perceptual features. Finally, there is evidence that in anagram solution—as on other linguistic tasks—priming effects are not due to strategic processes.