Labels strengthen motor learning of new tools

Foerster, François R.; Borghi, Anna M.; Goslin, Jeremy

doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2020.04.006

Cited by 21 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Semantic representations encode stable properties of tools, for example, sensorimotor properties such as shape and size, which remain rather invariant across contexts as compared with variable properties such as the current object orientation. Hence, language (semantics) contributes to ground conceptual information, such as proposed by the Label Feedback Hypothesis [32], and plays a direct role in motor learning [33]. For instance, it has been shown that reading verbs related to actions and functions induces a person to process affordances of objects close to their body faster than those distant from it, while reading verbs related to observing and pointing does not lead to any difference (e.g., [34,35]).…”

Section: Affordances In Different Physical Linguistic and Social Contextsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Affordances to Abstract Words: The Flexibility of Sensorimotor Grounding

et al. 2021

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The sensorimotor system plays a critical role in several cognitive processes. Here, we review recent studies documenting this interplay at different levels. First, we concentrate on studies that have shown how the sensorimotor system is flexibly involved in interactions with objects. We report evidence demonstrating how social context and situations influence affordance activation, and then focus on tactile and kinesthetic components in body–object interactions. Then, we turn to word use, and review studies that have shown that not only concrete words, but also abstract words are grounded in the sensorimotor system. We report evidence that abstract concepts activate the mouth effector more than concrete concepts, and discuss this effect in light of studies on adults, children, and infants. Finally, we pinpoint possible sensorimotor mechanisms at play in the acquisition and use of abstract concepts. Overall, we show that the involvement of the sensorimotor system is flexibly modulated by context, and that its role can be integrated and flanked by that of other systems such as the linguistic system. We suggest that to unravel the role of the sensorimotor system in cognition, future research should fully explore the complexity of this intricate, and sometimes slippery, relation.

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Section: Affordances In Different Physical Linguistic and Social Contextsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Affordances to Abstract Words: The Flexibility of Sensorimotor Grounding

et al. 2021

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“…Second, an increasing number of studies are showing that language impacts cognition in multiple ways. These studies highlight how language influences not only high-level cognition (e.g., reasoning and problem solving) but also perception, for example helping humans to better recognise and categorise objects and entities 15 , 16 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A computational model of language functions in flexible goal-directed behaviour

Granato

Borghi

Baldassarre

2020

Sci Rep

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The function of language in high-order goal-directed human cognition is an important topic at the centre of current debates. Experimental evidence shows that inner speech, representing a self-directed form of language, empowers cognitive processes such as working memory, perception, categorization, and executive functions. Here we study the relations between inner speech and processes like feedback processing and cognitive flexibility. To this aim we propose a computational model that controls an artificial agent who uses inner speech to internally manipulate its representations. The agent is able to reproduce human behavioural data collected during the solution of the Wisconsin Card Sorting test, a neuropsychological test measuring cognitive flexibility, both in the basic condition and when a verbal shadowing protocol is used. The components of the model were systematically lesioned to clarify the specific impact of inner speech on the agent’s behaviour. The results indicate that inner speech improves the efficiency of internal representation manipulation. Specifically, it makes the representations linked to specific visual features more disentangled, thus improving the agent’s capacity to engage/disengage attention on stimulus features after positive/negative action outcomes. Overall, the model shows how inner speech could improve goal-directed internal manipulation of representations and enhance behavioural flexibility.

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“…Possessing a label for a novel object can facilitate learning how to grasp it for use but not how to move it. Language encodes stable properties of tools, thereby contributing to ground conceptual information-as proposed by the Label Feedback Hypothesis [29]-and plays a direct role in motor learning [30]. Reading verbs related to action and functions induces us to process affordances of objects close to our body faster than those distant from it, while reading verbs related to observation and pointing does not lead to any difference [31,32].…”

Section: Affordances and Context Consistently Withmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Affordances to Abstract Words: The Flexibility of the Sensorimotor Grounding

María¹,

Fini²,

Michalland³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Recent research has shown that the sensorimotor system plays a significant role in a variety of cognitive processes. In this paper, we will review recent studies performed in our lab (Body Action Language Lab, BALLAB) or in labs with which we collaborate, showing the involvement of the sensorimotor system at different levels. With the purpose of expounding on this aspect, we focus on studies that highlight two main characteristics of the involvement of the sensorimotor systems. First, we concentrate on the flexibility of sensorimotor grounding during interaction with objects. We report evidence showing how social context and current situations influence affordance activation. We then focus on the tactile and kinesthetic involvement in body-object interaction. Second, we illustrate flexible sensorimotor grounding in word use. We review studies showing that not only concrete words, like “bottle,” but also abstract words, like “freedom,” “thinking,” and “perhaps,” are grounded in the sensorimotor system. We report evidence showing that abstract words activate sensory modalities and involve the mouth effector more than concrete words due to their privileged relationship with language, both outer and inner speech. We discuss the activation of the mouth sensorimotor system in light of studies on adults (e.g., studies employing articulatory suppression), children (e.g., studies on the effects of pacifier use on word acquisition and processing), and infants (e.g. studies on emergence of new words). Finally, we pinpoint possible mechanisms at play in the acquisition and use of abstract concepts. We argue that with abstract concepts, we rely more on other people to learn or negotiate the meaning of words; we have called this mechanism social metacognition.Social metacognition is bidirectionally linked to our sensorimotor system. On the one hand, linguistic explanations constitute a primary source of grounding that may be re-enacted when retrieving a concept, for example through inner speech. On the other hand, it leads us to feel closer and be more synchronous in movement with others, who can help us understand the meaning of very complex words. Overall, we show that the sensorimotor system provides a grounding basis not only for objects and concrete words but also for more abstract and concrete ones. We conclude by arguing that future research should address and deepen two different and interrelated aspects concerning the involvement of the sensorimotor system during object and word processing. First, the sensorimotor system is flexibly modulated by the context, as studies on affordances reveal. Second, the sensorimotor system can be involved at different levels, and its role can be integrated and flanked by that of other systems, like the linguistic one, as studies on abstract concepts clearly show. We urge future research aimed at unravelling the role of the sensorimotor system in cognition to fully explore the complexity of this intricate-and sometimes slippery-relation.

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Labels strengthen motor learning of new tools

Cited by 21 publications

References 57 publications

From Affordances to Abstract Words: The Flexibility of Sensorimotor Grounding

From Affordances to Abstract Words: The Flexibility of Sensorimotor Grounding

A computational model of language functions in flexible goal-directed behaviour

From Affordances to Abstract Words: The Flexibility of the Sensorimotor Grounding

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