title: The linguistic context effects on the processing of body-object interaction words: An ERP study on second language learners.
abstract: Embodied theories of cognition argue that the processing of both concrete and abstract concepts requires the activation of sensorimotor systems. The present study examined the time course for embedding a sensorimotor context in order to elicit sensitivity to the sensorimotor consequences of understanding body-object interaction (BOI) words. In the study, Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) were recorded while subjects performed a sentence acceptability task. Target BOI words were preceded by rich or poor sensorimotor sentential contexts. The behavioural results replicated previous findings in that high BOI words received a response faster than low BOI words. In addition to this, however, there was a context effect in the sensorimotor region as well as a BOI effect in the parietal region (involved in object representation). The results indicate that the sentential sensorimotor context contributes to the subsequent BOI processing and that action-and perception-related language leads to the activation of the same brain areas, which is consistent with the embodiment theory.
authors: School of English Language, Literature and Culture and Centre for Language and Cognition, Beijing International Studies University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: xuejin@bisu.edu.cn.
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Xue
authors: Gösta Ekman Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: fernando.marmolejo.ramos@psychology.su.se.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Marmolejo-Ramos
authors: School of English Language, Literature and Culture and Centre for Language and Cognition, Beijing International Studies University, Beijing, China.
authors: Xuna
authors: X
authors: Pei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008037:Linguistics; D008297:Male; D019303:Multilingualism; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012660:Semantics; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body-interaction effect; ERP; Embodiment; Linguistic context