Context matters: How do task demands modulate the recruitment of sensorimotor information during language processing?

ABSTRACT: Many theories of semantic representation propose that simulations of sensorimotor experience contribute to language processing. This can be seen in the body-object interaction effect (BOI; how easily the human body can interact with a word's referent). Words with high BOI ratings (e.g., ball) are processed more quickly than words with low BOI ratings (e.g., cloud) in various language tasks. This effect can be modulated by task demands. Previous research established that when asked to decide if a word is an object (entity condition), a BOI effect is observed, but when asked to decide if a word is an action (action condition), there is no BOI effect. It is unclear whether the null behavioral effect in the action condition reflects top-down modulation of task-relevant sensorimot

SUBMITTER: Muraki EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9886877 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature