On the processing of meaning from parafoveal vision during eye fixations in reading

Research dealing with parafoveal processing during eye fixations is reviewed. Four main topics are addressed: (1) parafoveal processing, (2) word skipping, (3) preview benefit effects, and (4) parafoveal-on-foveal effects. We argue that word skipping effects reflect the fact that a parafoveal word (word n + 1) has been identified on the fixation on word n. We also review evidence which strongly suggests that preview benefits during reading are not due to semantic processing of a parafoveal word. Finally, we review the more recent and more controversial research suggesting that the meaning of word n + 1 can influence the fixation time on word n, and argue that it is premature at this point to accept the validity of such findings with respect to normal reading. Implications of the research for serial attention shift models like the E-Z Reader model are also discussed.