Non-Differential Rates of Dark Adaptation to “Taboo” and “Neutral” Stimuli

Abstract

Worthington (1964) reported detectability differences favoring neutral over taboo four-letter words. He measured the dark-adaptation time necessary, not to recognize, but merely to detect a stimulus. Our aim: to duplicate all the essential features of Worthington’s experiment; the outcome: no significant differences involving word class. Therefore it seems premature to conclude that perceptual defense plays a role in visual detection.