Anchoring and contextual variation in the early stages of incidental word learning during reading

Lexical processing is influenced by a word’s semantic diversity, as estimated corpus-derived metrics. Although this suggests that contextual variation shapes verbal learning and memory, it not clear what diversity represents why influences lexical processing. Word experiments simulations offer an opportunity to manipulate directly measure the effects on In Experiment 1, adults read novel words in six naturalistic passages spanning one familiar topic (low diversity) or topics (high diversity). Words experienced low-diversity condition showed better learning, effect replicated simulating spreading activation networks differing diversity. We attributed these findings “anchoring”, process of stabilizing word representations securing them onto long-term memory. Simulation 2 tested whether might be placed take advantage if were given anchoring opportunity. Simulations behavioural data both after opportunity, forms learned high-diversity condition, contrasting with Simulation/Experiment 1. Taken together, show influence early stages learning.