title: Implicit learning of mappings between forms and metaphorical meanings.
abstract: Previous research has shown that people can implicitly acquire mappings between word forms and literal meanings (Williams, 2004, 2005). We argue, from the metaphor-representation and embodiment perspectives, that people can unconsciously establish mappings between word forms and not only literal but also metaphorical meanings. Using Williams' (2005) paradigm, we found that transfer of form-meaning connections from a concrete domain (space) to an abstract domain (power) was achieved in a metaphor-consistent way without awareness. Our results support the view that unconscious knowledge can be flexibly deployed in an abstract way not previously explored in the implicit learning literature.
authors: School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Fengying
authors: F
authors: Li
authors: Xiuyan
authors: X
authors: Guo
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Zhu
authors: Zhiliang
authors: Z
authors: Yang
authors: Zoltan
authors: Z
authors: Dienes
mesh_terms: D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D019365:Metaphor; D012660:Semantics; D014163:Transfer, Psychology; D055815:Young Adult