Reversing the N400: event-related potentials of a negative semantic priming effect.
We investigated electrophysiological correlates of the access to semantic representations. Participants had to make word/nonword decisions to target words. A first word (i.e. the prime) preceded the target. The prime was either semantically related or unrelated to the target. Using a special masking technique we were able to present the prime rather long (approximately 140 ms) while preventing participants from consciously processing the prime. In line with former studies, participants showed a reversed priming effect: they reacted faster to unrelated compared with related targets. Interestingly, the N400 mimicked the behavioral effect: we observed more negative-going waveforms to related relative to unrelated targets. The result indicates that the N400 can reflect temporarily reduced access to semantic representations.
Bermeitinger
Christina
C
Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany. cbermeit@mx.uni-saarland.de
Frings
Christian
C
Wentura
Dirk
D
D000328:Adult; D003463:Cues; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D010153:Paired-Associate Learning / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D011932:Reading; D012660:Semantics; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology