Grounding meaning in experience: A broad perspective on embodied language

Buccino, Giovanni; Colagé, Ivan; Gobbi, Nicola; Bonaccorso, Giorgio

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.07.033

Cited by 78 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 95 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Several studies have shown that language and culture are strongly influenced by sensorimotor experiences (for an overview see [51]. ) Further, language and culture are reported to modulate the reference frame that is used to answer ambiguous temporal or spatial questions (e.g., [13,48–50]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does movement influence representations of time and space?

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Embodied cognition posits that abstract conceptual knowledge such as mental representations of time and space are at least partially grounded in sensorimotor experiences. If true, then the execution of whole-body movements should result in modulations of temporal and spatial reference frames. To scrutinize this hypothesis, in two experiments participants either walked forward, backward or stood on a treadmill and responded either to an ambiguous temporal question (Experiment 1) or an ambiguous spatial question (Experiment 2) at the end of the walking manipulation. Results confirmed the ambiguousness of the questions in the control condition. Nevertheless, despite large power, walking forward or backward did not influence the answers or response times to the temporal (Experiment 1) or spatial (Experiment 2) question. A follow-up Experiment 3 indicated that this is also true for walking actively (or passively) in free space (as opposed to a treadmill). We explore possible reasons for the null-finding as concerns the modulation of temporal and spatial reference frames by movements and we critically discuss the methodological and theoretical implications.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does movement influence representations of time and space?

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Recently, in the context of the embodied language theory, studies revealed that power decreases in the b-as well as the l-band are correlated with the processing of concrete action related language (Alemanno et al, 2012;Fargier et al, 2012;Moreno, de Vega, & León, 2013;Moreno et al, 2015;van Elk, van Schie, Zwaan, & Bekkering, 2010). This finding strongly sup-ports the theory of embodiment, which, in the case of language processing, indicates that understanding linguistic input requires a mental neural simulation of respective sensorimotor information in somatosensory and motor areas (Barsalou, 1999(Barsalou, , 2008Gallese & Lakoff, 2005;Glenberg & Kaschak, 2003; for a review see also Buccino, Colagè, Gobbi, & Bonaccorso, 2016). For instance, Gallese and Lakoff (2005) suggested that the neural substrates underlying the processing of perceptive input, action execution, action simulation, action imagery and linguistic comprehension are equal and that all of these processes require the activation of sensorimotor circuits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

EEG beta-power changes reflect motor involvement in abstract action language processing

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

language Action verbs Beta-oscillation Event-related desynchronization (ERD) a b s t r a c tBrain oscillations in the a-and b-range become suppressed during motor processing and motor imagery.It has recently been discussed that such power changes also occur during action language processing. In our study, we compared b 2 -oscillations (16-25 Hz) during the observation of prototypical arm movements (revealed via motion tracking) as well as during semantic processing of concrete and abstract sentences containing arm-related action verbs. Whereas we did find a strong desynchronization in the b 2 -range during action observation, the processing of action sentences evoked a rather weak desynchronization. However, this desynchronization occurred for action verbs in both concrete and abstract contexts. These results might indicate a tendency for abstract action language to be processed similar to concrete action language rather than abstract sentences. The oscillation patterns reflect the close relationship between language comprehension and motor functions -one of the core claims of current theories on embodied cognition.

show abstract

“…Embodied cognition maintains that language processing involves the recruitment of the same sensory, motor, and even emotional neural substrates recruited when one executes, perceives or feels the content of language material (Glenberg, 1997 ; Barsalou, 1999 ; Pulvermüller, 2001 ; Gallese and Lakoff, 2005 ; Zwaan and Taylor, 2006 ; Jirak et al, 2010 ; Buccino et al, 2016 ). If so, then processing graspable objects and the corresponding nouns should modulate in a similar manner the motor system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluent Speakers of a Second Language Process Graspable Nouns Expressed in L2 Like in Their Native Language

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

According to embodied cognition, language processing relies on the same neural structures involved when individuals experience the content of language material. If so, processing nouns expressing a motor content presented in a second language should modulate the motor system as if presented in the mother tongue. We tested this hypothesis using a go-no go paradigm. Stimuli included English nouns and pictures depicting either graspable or non-graspable objects. Pseudo-words and scrambled images served as controls. Italian participants, fluent speakers of English as a second language, had to respond when the stimulus was sensitive and refrain from responding when it was not. As foreseen by embodiment, motor responses were selectively modulated by graspable items (images or nouns) as in a previous experiment where nouns in the same category were presented in the native language.

show abstract

Grounding meaning in experience: A broad perspective on embodied language

Cited by 78 publications

References 95 publications

Does movement influence representations of time and space?

Does movement influence representations of time and space?

EEG beta-power changes reflect motor involvement in abstract action language processing

Fluent Speakers of a Second Language Process Graspable Nouns Expressed in L2 Like in Their Native Language

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About