Abstract
In this study, we present a novel theoretical account of the N400 event-related potential (ERP) component. Hybrid views interpret this ERP component in terms of two cognitive operations: (i) access of information, which is related to predictions (predictability component), and (ii) integration of information, which is related to plausibility (plausibility component). Though there is an empirical evidence for this view, what has been left open so far is how these two operations can be defined. In our approach, both components are related to categorization. The critical word and the argument position it is related to are associated with categories that have a graded structure. This graded structure is defined in terms of weights both on attributes and values of features belonging to a category. The weights, in turn, are defined using probability distributions. The predictability component is defined in terms of the information gain with respect to non mismatched features between the two categories. The plausibility component is defined as the difference in the degree of typicality between the two categories. Finally, the N400 amplitude is defined as a function of both components.
Highlights
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Language Sciences, a section of the journal Frontiers in Psychology
The central question is as follows: how exactly is retrieving features from long-term memory linked to the modulation of the N400 amplitude? Since retrieving information is related to prediction, the link to N400 activity should be defined in terms of a function of pre-activated and found features
(17) The predictability component of N400 activity is related to the information gain relative to Carg defined as the set of pre-activated features in this category concept that are not disconfirmed by CCW
Summary
We present a novel theoretical account of the N400 event-related potential (ERP) component Hybrid views interpret this ERP component in terms of two cognitive operations: (i) access of information, which is related to predictions (predictability component), and (ii) integration of information, which is related to plausibility (plausibility component). Though there is an empirical evidence for this view, what has been left open so far is how these two operations can be defined In our approach, both components are related to categorization. The critical word and the argument position it is related to are associated with categories that have a graded structure This graded structure is defined in terms of weights both on attributes and values of features belonging to a category.
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