Visual Recognition Thresholds for Narcotic Argot in Postaddicts

Abstract

Visual recognition thresholds were determined for matched pairs of words. Each pair of words contained one which belonged to the argot of the narcotic addict and one word which did not. Thresholds obtained on 37 hospitalized postaddicts and 19 normals were significantly lower on argot words than on non-argot words for the postaddict group, while the normals showed no significant differences. Supplementary ratings on familiarity of the words showed a significant general relation between recognition thresholds and familiarity. In addition, the postaddicts rated argot words as significantly more familiar than non-argot words.