Abstract
Introduction: Many studies have shown that task performance is affected by the relation between the spatial location and the meaning of a target word. These effects have been obtained for object names that have typical positions in the physical world (Zwaan and Yaxley, 2003; Bergen et al., 2007; Seticˇ and Domijan, 2007; Estes et al., 2008) and for concepts that are metaphorically related to spatial position (Richardson et al., 2003; Meier and Robinson, 2004; Schnall and Clore, 2004; Schubert, 2005; Giessner and Schubert, 2007; Casasanto, 2009; Van Dantzig, 2009). Although these findings are consistent with a mental simulation account, at least some of the interactions between meaning and spatial location might be explained by polarity alignment. In our study (Pecher et al., 2010) we tested whether spatial congruency effects are best explained by mental simulations or by polarity alignment. ...
Highlights
According to the polarity alignment principle, stimulus dimensions and response alternatives with binary values are coded as having a + polarity or − polarity
We found that participants were faster to respond to UP than to DOWN stimuli in the sky decision task, but that they were faster to respond to DOWN than to UP stimuli in the ocean decision task
Our findings show that spatial congruency effects in semantic decision tasks are best explained by meaning driven spatial attention rather than polarity alignment
Summary
According to the polarity alignment principle, stimulus dimensions and response alternatives with binary values are coded as having a + (plus) polarity or − (minus) polarity. Responses are faster when stimulus and response polarities are aligned (++ or −−) than when they are misaligned (+− or −+). Participants performed either a sky decision task or an ocean decision task. Our findings show that spatial congruency effects in semantic decision tasks are best explained by meaning driven spatial attention rather than polarity alignment.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call