Automatic and controlled semantic processing: A masked prime-task effect B. Valde ´s a, * , A. Catena b , P. Marı ´-Beffa a a University of Wales, Bangor, Adeilad Brigantia, Penrallt Road, Gwynedd LL57 2AS, UK b University of Granada, Spain Received 5 February 2004 Available online 26 October 2004 Abstract A classical definition of automaticity establishes that automatic processing occurs without attention or consciousness, and cannot be controlled. Previous studies have demonstrated that semantic priming can be reduced if attention is directed to a low-level of analysis. This finding suggests that semantic processing is not automatic since it can be controlled. In this paper, we present two experiments that demonstrate that semantic processing may occur in the absence of attention and consciousness. A negative semantic priming effect was found when a low-level prime-task was required and when a masked lexical decision prime-task was performed (Experiment 1). This paper also discusses the limitations of the inhibitory mechanism involved in negative semantic priming effect. Ó 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Automaticity; Consciousness; Attention; Semantic priming; Negative Priming; Word processing 1. Introduction When confronted with printed words, skilled readers have the subjective impression that read- ing is an automatic process that does not requires attentional control or effort. For decades this 1053-8100/$ - see front matter Ó 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2004.08.001 * Corresponding author. Fax: +44 1248 38 2599. E-mail address: b.valdes@bangor.ac.uk (B. Valde ´s). www.elsevier.com/locate/concog Consciousness and Cognition 14 (2005) 278–295 Consciousness and Cognition