The impact of length, rotation, and repetition in Arabic words: Event-related potential evidence

The current study investigated the effects of word length, rotation, and repetition on the early processing of Arabic words in 24 Arabic-speaking college students (M_age = 21.6 years, SD = 1.67). Using a priming repetition paradigm, participants quickly determined if prime (S1) and probe (S2) words were the same or different. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured, focusing on P100, N170, and N250 components. Behavioral results indicated longer response times (RTs) and higher error rates for nine-letter, rotated, and non-repeated words. ERP results for the prime (S1) showed significant effects of word length and rotation on P100 and N170 components. Specifically, nine-letter words and 90 °-rotated words elicited higher amplitudes. For the probe (S2), no effects were found on P100, but 90 °-rotated words showed higher N170 and N250 amplitudes. These findings suggest that early stages of Arabic word processing are influenced by word length and rotation. They contribute to the understanding of Arabic word recognition.