title: Semantic priming modulates the N400, N300, and N400RP.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether ERP components can differentiate between the semantic priming mechanisms of automatic spreading activation, expectancy, and semantic matching.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study manipulated two factors known to differentiate semantic priming mechanisms: associations between words (forward, backward, and symmetrical) and prime-target stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA). Twenty-six participants were tested in each SOA condition while high-density 128-channel data were collected. Principal components analysis was applied to separate the ERP components.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Priming was observed for all conditions. Three semantic components were present: (1) the standard N400 effect for symmetric and forward priming pairs at both short and long SOAs, (2) an N300 for the long SOA symmetric priming pairs, and (3) a right-lateralized posterior N400RP for long SOA backward priming pairs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that the N300 reflects expectancy, but only for categorical and/or semantic similarity priming. Results further suggest that the N400RP is a replicable ERP component that responds to semantic matching. There is also some evidence that the N400 indirectly responds to both ASA and expectancy, perhaps as part of a post-lexical updating process and that backward priming at short SOAs is different from that at long SOAs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved understanding of the semantic properties of the N400 and related ERP components may increase their utility for understanding language processes and for diagnostic purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Tulane University, USA. msfrankl@umich.edu
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dien
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Neely
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Lauren D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Waterson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003344:Cortical Synchronization; D003463:Cues; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology