Semantic reversal anomalies (SRAs)-sentences where an implausibility is created by reversing participant roles-have attracted much attention in the literature on the electrophysiology of language. In spite of being syntactically well formed but semantically implausible, these sentences unexpectedly elicited a monophasic P600 effect in English and Dutch rather than an N400 effect. Subsequent research revealed variability in the presence/absence of an N400 effect to SRAs depending on the language examined and the choice of verb type in English. However, most previous studies employed the same presentation modality (visual) and task (acceptability judgement). Here, we conducted two experiments and three statistical analyses to investigate the influence of stimulus modality, task demand and statistical choices on event-related potential (ERP) response patterns to SRAs in English. We reproduced a previous study's procedure and analysis (N. Bourguignon et al. (2012) Brain and Language, 122, 179-189) and further introduced between-subjects factors of task type and modality, using mixed-effects modelling to analyse the data. We observed an N400 effect to typical English SRAs (agent subject verbs, e.g. "the fries will eat the boys"), which contrasts existing literature and was not predicted by existing theories that account for SRA processing. Task demand modulated the ERPs elicited by SRAs, while auditory presentation led to increased comprehension accuracy and a more broadly distributed ERP. Finally, the statistical methods used influenced the presence/absence of ERP effects. Our results suggest a sensitivity of language-related ERP patterns to methodological parameters, and we conclude that future experiments should take this into careful consideration.

Semantic reversal anomalies (SRAs)sentences where an implausibility is created by reversing participant roleshave attracted a great deal of attention in the literature on the electrophysiology of language. In spite of being syntactically well-formed but semantically implausible, these structures unexpectedly elicited a monophasic P600 effect in English and Dutch rather than an N400 effect.Subsequent research revealed variability in the presence/absence of an N400 effect to SRAs depending on the language examined and the choice of verb type in English. However, most previous studies employed the same presentation modality (visual) and task (acceptability judgement). Here, we conducted two experiments and three statistical analyses to investigate the influence of stimulus modality, task demand, and statistical modelling on ERP response patterns to SRAs in English. We reproduced a previous study's procedure and analysis (Bourguignon et al., 2012), aiming to replicate their findings. We further introduced between-subjects factors of task type and modality and conducted linear mixed effects modelling to analyse the data. We observed an N400 effect to typical English SRAs, in contrast to the existing literature and not predicted by existing theories that accounts for SRA processing. Task demand quantitively and qualitatively modulated the ERPs elicited by SRAs, while auditory presentation led to increased comprehension accuracy and a more broadly distributed ERP. Finally, the statistical methods used influenced the presence/absence of ERP effects.Our results suggest the sensitivity of language-related ERP patterns to methodological parameters and we conclude that future experiments should take this into careful consideration.(b) At the first noun, a significant N400 was elicited for inanimate compared to animate Subject NPs, most prominent at the midline. (c) At the verb, animacy reversals elicited an N400 effect for ESV only, and elicited a P600 effect for both ASV and ESV.### Table 1 here ### 1.3.1. Experiment 1: Task. We included the between-subjects factor of task to compare the ERPs elicited in a judgement versus comprehension task. The crucial difference between tasks is that the comprehension question could not be predicted prior to presentation. The judgement task employed the same question after each sentence, therefore a decision could be made during sentence presentation. If the P600 observed in SRA studies relates to task-relevance, it should be diminished when the task is unpredictable. We hypothesise (H2) that a P600 will be elicited at the Verb with an Animacy effect and that the amplitude of this P600 will be larger for the Judgement compared to Comprehension condition. Experiment 2:Modality. Experiment 2 matched Experiment 1, but sentence stimuli were presented auditorily via loudspeakers rather than with RSVP. To test the predictions of current models of sentence processing which are based on auditory processing, we developed an auditory stimulus set with the same sentences as Experiment 1. We hypothe...

The influence of sentential cues (such as animacy and word order) on thematic role interpretation differs as a function of language (MacWhinney et al. 1984). However, existing cross-linguistic research has typically focused on transitive sentences involving agents, and interpretation of non-default verb classes is less well understood. Here, we compared the way in which English and German native speakers – languages known to differ in the cue prominence of animacy and word order – assign thematic roles. We compared their interpretation of sentences containing either default (agent-subject) or non-default (experiencer-subject) verb classes. Animacy of the two noun phrases in a sentence was either animate-inanimate and plausible (e.g. “The men will devour the meals...”) or inanimate-animate and implausible in English (e.g. “The meals will devour the men…”). We examined role assignment by probing for either the actor or undergoer of the sentence. Mixed effects modelling revealed that role assignment was significantly influenced by noun animacy, verb class, question type, and language. Results are interpreted within the Competition Model framework (Bates et al. 1982; MacWhinney et al. 1984), and show that English speakers predominantly relied on word order for thematic role assignment. German speakers relied on word order to a comparatively lesser degree, with animacy a prominent cue. Non-default verbs (experiencer-subject) promoted a non-default comprehension strategy regarding the prominence of sentential cues, particularly in German. Intriguingly, responses were modulated by the probe task, with undergoer probes promoting object-initial interpretations, particularly for German speakers. This suggests that task focus may retroactively influence sentence interpretation.

This chapter provides an introduction to neurophysiological methods from the field ofcognitive neuroscience, and how they may be applied to address research questions in the field ofmanagerial and organisational cognition. The chapter focuses on electroencephalography (EEG)as an accessible and useful tool to expand the theoretical horizons for research on organisationalcognitive neuroscience. We briefly review the cognitive neuroscience methods that have beenpreviously applied to investigate individual and team decision-making and cognition. We thendescribe contemporary EEG measures that reflect individual cognition and compare them tocomplementary measures in the field of psychology and management. We also discuss how theseneurobiological measures of cognition relate to and may predict both individual cognitiveperformance and team cognitive performance (decision-making). This chapter aims to assistscholars in the field of managerial and organisational cognition in understanding thecomplementarity between psychological and neurophysiological methods, and how they may becombined to develop new hypotheses in the intersection of these research fields.

The influence of sentential cues (such as animacy and word order) on thematic role interpretation differs as a function of language (MacWhinney et al. 1984). However, existing cross-linguistic research has typically focused on transitive sentences involving agents, and interpretation of non-default verb classes is less well understood. Here, we compared the way in which English and German native speakers – languages known to differ in the cue prominence of animacy and word order – assign thematic roles. We compared their interpretation of sentences containing either default (agent-subject) or non-default (experiencer-subject) verb classes. Animacy of the two noun phrases in a sentence was either animate-inanimate and plausible (e.g. “The men will devour the meals...”) or inanimate-animate and implausible in English (e.g. “The meals will devour the men…”). We examined role assignment by probing for either the actor or undergoer of the sentence. Mixed effects modelling revealed that role assignment was significantly influenced by noun animacy, verb class, question type, and language. Results are interpreted within the Competition Model framework (Bates et al. 1982; MacWhinney et al. 1984), and show that English speakers predominantly relied on word order for thematic role assignment. German speakers relied on word order to a comparatively lesser degree, with animacy a prominent cue. Non-default verbs (experiencer-subject) promoted a non-default comprehension strategy regarding the prominence of sentential cues, particularly in German. Intriguingly, responses were modulated by the probe task, with undergoer probes promoting object-initial interpretations, particularly for German speakers. This suggests that task focus may retroactively influence sentence interpretation.