ERPs reveal how semantic and syntactic processing unfold across parafoveal and foveal vision during sentence comprehension

Abstract

ABSTRACT We examined how readers process content and function words in sentence comprehension with ERPs. Participants read simple declarative sentences using a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) with flankers paradigm. Sentences contained either an unexpected semantically anomalous content word, an unexpected syntactically anomalous function word or were well-formed with no anomalies. ERPs were examined when target words were in the parafoveal or foveal vision. Unexpected content words elicited a typically distributed N400 when displayed in the parafovea, followed by a longer-lasting, widely distributed positivity starting around 300 ms once foveated. Unexpected function words elicited a left lateralised LAN-like component when presented in the parafovea, followed by a left lateralised, posteriorly distributed P600 when foveated. These results suggested that both semantic and syntactic processing involve two stages – the initial, fast process that can be completed in parafovea, followed by a more in depth attentionally mediated assessment that occurs with direct attention.