Abstract
Numerous studies in the field of embodied cognition have shown a crosstalk between language and sensorimotor processes. In particular, it has been demonstrated that perceiving an action influences subsequent language processing. However, when studying the effect of action observation on language processing it has not been considered whether the context of action presentation could modulate this influence. To test this assumption, the participants in our study observed a prime, specifically a cartoon picture of a person performing an action in either a usual or an unusual context, and then had to perform a semantic decision task involving action verbs that could be congruent or incongruent with the action in the prime. Data analyses showed a significant difference on response times for congruent action verbs compared with incongruent action verbs in the usual context, whereas no difference was observed in the unusual context. This finding indicates that the influence of action observation on language appears only with usual actions, suggesting that the context of action presentation is crucial to enable the influence of action observation on action verbs processing.
Highlights
The theory of embodied cognition suggests that human cognition is deeply rooted in the sensorimotor system [1]
With regard to language processing, embodied cognition theories suggest that semantic knowledge relies upon sensorimotor representations and that retrieving this semantic knowledge requires neural systems that are involved in the actual execution of the action [3, 4]
We recently demonstrated that observing a point-light human action facilitated the subsequent processing of congruent action verbs [13] suggesting that action observation and action language processing are based on the activation of common sensorimotor representations
Summary
The theory of embodied cognition suggests that human cognition is deeply rooted in the sensorimotor system [1] According to this perspective, higher cognitive abilities depend on the activation of sensory and motor representations [2]. Action word processing could depend on the activation of motor processes that are involved in the actual performance of these actions [5] Several studies confirmed this view by demonstrating that the sensorimotor system plays a role in the comprehension and production of language describing actions [6] and that executing an action could influence language processes [7, 8].
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