title: Effect of action verbs on the performance of a complex movement.
abstract: The interaction between language and motor action has been approached by studying the effect of action verbs, kinaesthetic imagery and mental subtraction upon the performance of a complex movement, the squat vertical jump (SVJ). The time of flight gave the value of the height of the SVJ and was measured with an Optojump® and a Myotest® apparatuses. The results obtained by the effects of the cognitive stimuli showed a statistically significant improvement of the SVJ performance after either loudly or silently pronouncing, hearing or reading the verb saute (jump in French language). Action verbs specific for other motor actions (pince = pinch, lèche = lick) or non-specific (bouge = move) showed no or little effect. A meaningless verb for the French subjects (tiáo = jump in Chinese) showed no effect as did rêve (dream), tombe (fall) and stop. The verb gagne (win) improved significantly the SVJ height, as did its antonym perds (lose) suggesting a possible influence of affects in the subjects' performance. The effect of the specific action verb jump upon the heights of SVJ was similar to that obtained after kinaesthetic imagery and after mental subtraction of two digits numbers from three digits ones; possibly, in the latter, because of the intervention of language in calculus. It appears that the effects of the specific action verb jump did seem effective but not totally exclusive for the enhancement of the SVJ performance. The results imply an interaction among language and motor brain areas in the performance of a complex movement resulting in a clear specificity of the corresponding action verb. The effect upon performance may probably be influenced by the subjects' intention, increased attention and emotion produced by cognitive stimuli among which action verbs.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche et d'Innovation sur le Sport, CRIS, EA 647, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France. taharrabahi@gmail.com
authors.forename: Tahar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rabahi
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fargier
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rifai Sarraj
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clouzeau
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Massarelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult