Measuring the Semantic Priming Effect Across Many Languages
Authors: Buchanan Erin Michelle , Cuccolo Kelly , Heyman Tom , van Berkel Niels , Coles Nicholas Alvaro , Iyer Aishwarya , Peters Kim Olivia , van 't Veer Anna Elisabeth , Montefinese Maria , Maxwell Nicholas P. , Taylor Jack Edward , Valentine Kathrene D , Arriaga Patricia , Barzykowski Krystian , Boucher Leanne , Collins W. Matthew , Vaidis David C. , Aczel Balazs , Al-Hoorie Ali H. , Ambrosini Ettore , Besson Théo , Burin DI , Butt Muhammad Mussaffa , Clarke Alan James Benjamin , Daryani Yalda , El-Dakhs Dina Abdel Salam , Elsherif Mahmoud Medhat , Fernández-López María , Ferreira Paulo RS , Freitag Raquel Meister Ko. , Gattei Carolina , Godbersen Hendrik , Grim Philip A. , Halama Peter , Havan Patrik , Irrazabal Natalia , Isloi Chris , Iversen Rebecca , Julliard Yoann , Karaaslan Aslan , Kohút Michal , Kohútová Veronika , Kos Julija , Kosachenko Alexandra I. , Lima Tiago Jessé Souza , Mak Matthew HC , Manouilidou Christina , Marciaga Leonardo , Xiaolin Melinna , Miranda Jacob Francisco , Morvinski Coby , Muppoor Aishwarya , Müjdeci Fatma Elif , Nielsen Yngwie Asbjørn , Oliveros Juan Carlos , Onič Jaš , Papadatou-Pastou Marietta , Patel Ishani , Pavlović Zoran , Pažon Blaž , Pfuhl Gerit , Pronizius Ekaterina , Roettger Timo Benjamin , Ronderos Camilo R. , Ruiz-Fernandez Susana , Senderecka Magdalena , Solak Çağlar , Stückler Anna , Szekely-Copîndean Raluca Diana , Taboh Analí , Thériault Rémi , Tran Ulrich S. , Trecca Fabio , Ulloa Fulgeri Jose Luis , Varga Marton Aron , Verheyen Steven , Pavlović Tijana Vesić , Viviani Giada , Wang Nan , Živná Kristýna , Yun Chen Chu , Clark Oliver James , Acar Oguz Ali , Adamkovic Matus , Agnoletti Giulia , Akil Atakan M. , Alsuhaibani Zainab , Amenta Simona , Ananyeva Olga , Andreychik Michael , Angele Bernhard , Quiñones Danna Catalina Arias , Arinze Nwadiogo Chisom , Askelund Adrian Dahl , Baker Bradley James , Baskin Ernest , Batalha Luisa , Batres Carlota , Beato Maria Soledad , Becker Manuel , Becker Maja , Behnke Maciej , Blaison Christophe , Borghi Anna M. , Brandstätter Eduard , Buczny Jacek , Budak Nesrin , Cabana Álvaro , Cai Zhenguang Garry , Canessa Enrique , Castillejo Ignacio , Cavdan Müge , Cecchetti Luca , Chaigneau Sergio , Chang Feria X. W. , Chartier Christopher R. , Chen Sau-Chin , Cherniaeva Elena , Christiansen Morten H. , Chuan-Peng Hu , Chwiłkowska Patrycja , Vila Montserrat Comesaña , Cowan Casey , Dandeneau Stéphane , David Oana , Davis William E. , Burak Elif Gizem Demirag , Dixson Barnaby , Du Hongfei , Duclos Rod , Duyck Wouter , Efimova Liudmila A. , Egan Ciara , Era Vanessa , Evans Thomas Rhys , Exner Anna , Feldman Gilad , Fellnhofer Katharina , Fini Chiara , Fisher Sarah E. , Flowe Heather D , Garrido-Vásquez Patricia , Gatti Daniele , Geller Jason , Giannouli Vaitsa , Gorokhova Anna , Griener Lindsay , Grigoryev Dmitry , Grossmann Igor , Hajighasemi Mohammadhesam , Handjaras Giacomo , Hauspie Cathy , He Zhiran , Heilman Renata Melinda , Heydari Amirmahdi , Hine Alanna M. , Hoyer Karlijn , Hryniszak Weronika , Hsiao Janet Hui-wen , Huang Guanxiong , Ihaya Keiko , Johnson David Charles , Ilczuk Ewa , Ishii Tatsunori , Dumbravă Andrei , Jankowiak Katarzyna , Jiang Xiaoming , Jończyk Rafał , Järvikivi Juhani , Kaczer Laura , Kamermans Kevin Leander , Karl Johannes Alfons , Karner Alexander , Kačmár Pavol , Keech Jacob J , Kim M. Justin , Korbmacher Max , Kostorz Kathrin , Kowal Marta , Kratochvíl Tomáš , Kunisato Yoshihiko , Kuzminska Anna O. , Körtvélyessy Lívia , Kose Ebru Ates , Köster Massimo , Kękuś Magdalena , Labusch Melanie , Lamm Claus , Lau Chaak Ming , Laurino Julieta , Law Wilbert , Lettieri Giada , Levitan Carmel , Lu Jackson G. , MacPherson Sarah E. , Malinakova Klara , Manríquez-Robles Diego , Marchant Nicolás , Marelli Marco , Martínez Martín , Matthews Molly , Mattiassi Alan , Mattoli-Sanchez Josefina , Mazzuca Claudia , McGovern David , Meier Zdenek , Melinscak Filip , Misiak Michał , Monteiro Luis Carlos Pereira , Moreau David , Moreno Sebastian , Mulgrew Kate E. , Muller Dominique , Nagy Tamas , Naranowicz Marcin , Ndukaihe Izuchukwu Lawrence Gabriel , Neta Maital , Novák Lukas , Ogbonnaya Chisom , Paek Jessica Jee Won , Paltoglou Aspa , Parada Francisco J. , Parker Adam , Paruzel-Czachura Mariola , Pavlov Yuri G. , Paydarfard Saeed , Pegler Dominik , Peker Mhmet , Perea Manuel , Pfattheicher Stefan , Protzko John , Prusova Irina , Pypno-Blajda Katarzyna , Qiu Zhuang , Reips Ulf-Dietrich , Ribeiro Gianni , Rinaldi Luca , Roberts S. Craig , Roembke Tanja C , Romanova Marina , Ross Robert M , Röer Jan Philipp , Rızaoğlu Filiz , Saari Toni Tapani , Sampaolo Erika , Santos Anabela Caetano , Sarıçiçek F. Çağlar , Sasaki Kyoshiro , Scharnowski Frank , Schmidt Kathleen , Sepehri Amir , Serçe Halid O. , Sevincer A. Timur , Siew Cynthia S. Q. , Simonetti Matilde Ellen , Sirota Miroslav , Sorokowska Agnieszka , Sorokowski Piotr , Stephen Ian D , Stevens Laura , Stewart Suzanne L. K. , Steyrl David , Stieger Stefan , Studzinska Anna , Suarez Mar , Szala Anna , Szmalec Arnaud , Sznycer Daniel , Szumowska Ewa , Söylemez Sinem , Söylemez Bahadır , Takashima Kaito , Tamnes Christian K. , Tan Joel , Tang Chengxiang , Tavel Petr , Tejada Julian , Thompson Benjamin , Tiernan Jake , Torres-Muñoz Vicente , Touloumakos Anna K. , Trémolière Bastien , Tschense Monika , Türkan Nilay , Vadillo Miguel A. , Vannucci Caterina , Varnum Michael E. W. , Vasilev Martin R. , Vaughn Leigh Ann , Verkampt Fanny , Villar Liliana , Wallot Sebastian , Wang Lijun , Wang Ke , Williams Glenn Patrick , Willinger David , Wolfe Kelly , Wormley Alexandra S. , Yamada Yuki , Yang Yunkai , Zhang Mengfan , Zhang Wang , Zheng Yueyuan , Zhou Yuwei , Zidkova Radka , Zumbrunn Nina Meret , Çoker Ogeday , Çoksan Sami , Oner Sezin , Özdoğru Asil Ali , Şahin Seda Merve , Kasanov Dauren , Cong Chin Wen , Lewis Savannah C 
Published: February 2025

Semantic priming has been studied for nearly 50 years across various experimental manipulations and theoretical frameworks. Although previous studies provide insight into the cognitive underpinnings of semantic representations, they have suffered from several methodological issues including small sample sizes and a lack of linguistic and cultural diversity. Here, we measured the size and the variability of the semantic priming effect across 19 languages (N = 25,163 participants analyzed) by creating the largest available database of semantic priming values based on an adaptive sampling procedure. Differences in response latencies between related word-pair conditions and unrelated word-pair conditions showed evidence for semantic priming. Model comparisons showed inclusion of a random intercept for language improved model fit, providing support for variability in semantic priming across languages. This study highlights the robustness and variability of semantic priming across languages and provides a rich, linguistically diverse dataset for further analysis.