The absence of a correlation between priming and recognition scores suggests that this result cannot be explained by an explicit memory bias. Moreover, as the priming level was identical whatever the perceptual aspect of the text, we suggest that the priming effect is not only mediated by perceptual processes but also by lexical and conceptual processes, which to some extent are preserved during the light and moderate stages of this disease.

The reaction time (RT) to an auditory stimulus was measured in 27 subjects during spontaneous breathing and during controlled breathing, which consisted of maintaining a set inspiratory duration. During spontaneous breathing, reaction times were unrelated to the time the stimulus was delivered during the breathing cycle. During controlled breathing, reaction times were longer than during spontaneous breathing. Peak reaction times were observed at the transition from inspiration to expiration. After the end of controlled breathing, reaction times gradually became shorter until they reached their initial level. The findings are discussed in terms of varying allocation of attentional resources to breathing. It is argued that probe RT methodology provides a suitable means for investigating attentional control of breathing.