The linguistic context effects on the processing of body-object interaction words: an ERP study on second language learners
Date
2015
Authors
Xue, J.
Marmolejo Ramos, F.
Pei, X.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Brain Research, 2015; 1613:37-48
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
Embodied theories of cognition argue that the processing of both concrete and abstract concepts requires the activation of sensorimotor systems. The present study examined the time course for embedding a sensorimotor context in order to elicit sensitivity to the sensorimotor consequences of understanding body-object interaction (BOI) words. In the study, Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) were recorded while subjects performed a sentence acceptability task. Target BOI words were preceded by rich or poor sensorimotor sentential contexts. The behavioural results replicated previous findings in that high BOI words received a response faster than low BOI words. In addition to this, however, there was a context effect in the sensorimotor region as well as a BOI effect in the parietal region (involved in object representation). The results indicate that the sentential sensorimotor context contributes to the subsequent BOI processing and that action-and perception-related language leads to the activation of the same brain areas, which is consistent with the embodiment theory. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
Copyright 2015 Elsevier BV