Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - A unitary account of conceptual representations of animate/inanimate categories
AU - Kovic, Vanja
AU - Plunkett, Kim
AU - Westermann, Gert
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - In this paper we present an ERP study examining the underlying nature of semantic representation of animate and inanimate objects. Time-locking ERP signatures to the onset of auditory stimuli we found topological similarities in animate and inanimate object processing. Moreover, we found no difference between animates and inanimates in the N400 amplitude, when mapping more specific to more general representation (visual to auditory stimuli). These studies provide further evidence for the theory of unitary semantic organization, but no support for the feature-based prediction of segregated conceptual organization.Further comparisons of animate vs. inanimate matches and within-vs. between-category mismatches revealed following results: processing of animate matches elicited more positivity than processing of inanimates within the N400 time-window; also, inanimate mismatches elicited a stronger N400 than did animate mismatches. Based on these findings we argue that one of the possible explanations for finding different and sometimes contradictory results in the literature regarding processing and representations of animates and inanimates in the brain could lie in the variability of selected items within each of the categories, that is, homogeneity of the categories.
AB - In this paper we present an ERP study examining the underlying nature of semantic representation of animate and inanimate objects. Time-locking ERP signatures to the onset of auditory stimuli we found topological similarities in animate and inanimate object processing. Moreover, we found no difference between animates and inanimates in the N400 amplitude, when mapping more specific to more general representation (visual to auditory stimuli). These studies provide further evidence for the theory of unitary semantic organization, but no support for the feature-based prediction of segregated conceptual organization.Further comparisons of animate vs. inanimate matches and within-vs. between-category mismatches revealed following results: processing of animate matches elicited more positivity than processing of inanimates within the N400 time-window; also, inanimate mismatches elicited a stronger N400 than did animate mismatches. Based on these findings we argue that one of the possible explanations for finding different and sometimes contradictory results in the literature regarding processing and representations of animates and inanimates in the brain could lie in the variability of selected items within each of the categories, that is, homogeneity of the categories.
KW - mental representations
KW - animacy
KW - auditory stimuli
KW - ERP
KW - N400
KW - EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS
KW - BRAIN POTENTIALS
KW - SEMANTIC MEMORY
KW - OBJECT IDENTIFICATION
KW - PICTURES
KW - COMPREHENSION
KW - ORGANIZATION
KW - INCONGRUITY
KW - INTEGRATION
KW - DISCOURSE
U2 - 10.2298/PSI1002155K
DO - 10.2298/PSI1002155K
M3 - Journal article
VL - 43
SP - 155
EP - 165
JO - Psihologija
JF - Psihologija
SN - 0048-5705
IS - 2
ER -