A unitary account of conceptual representations of animate/inanimate categories

Kovic, Vanja and Plunkett, Kim and Westermann, Gert (2010) A unitary account of conceptual representations of animate/inanimate categories. Psihologija, 43 (2). pp. 155-165. ISSN 0048-5705

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Psihologija
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3200/3200
Subjects:
?? mental representationsanimacyauditory stimulierpn400event-related potentialsbrain potentialssemantic memoryobject identificationpicturescomprehensionorganizationincongruityintegrationdiscoursegeneral psychologypsychology(all) ??
ID Code:
50880
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
08 Nov 2011 12:10
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
11 Sep 2024 15:10