Processing Abstract Language Modulates Motor System Activity

Abstract

Embodiment theory proposes that neural systems for perception and action are also engaged during language comprehension. Previous neuroimaging and neurophysiological studies have only been able to demonstrate modulation of action systems during comprehension of concrete language. We provide neurophysiological evidence for modulation of motor system activity during the comprehension of both concrete and abstract language. In Experiment 1, when the described direction of object transfer or information transfer (e.g., away from the reader to another) matched the literal direction of a hand movement used to make a response, speed of responding was faster than when the two directions mismatched (an action-sentence compatibility effect). In Experiment 2, we used single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation to study changes in the corticospinal motor pathways to hand muscles while reading the same sentences. Relative to sentences that do not describe transfer, there is greater modulation of activity in the hand muscles when reading sentences describing transfer of both concrete objects and abstract information. These findings are discussed in relation to the human mirror neuron system.

Does comprehension of symbolic gestures and corresponding-in-meaning words make use of motor simulation?

“…In accordance with previous work [5,24] a fronto-parietal circuit related to language or better to linking meaning to symbols in a modalityindependent way may be used for comprehension of symbolic gesture and corresponding word. In contrast, motor circuits including primary motor area are likely activated to comprehend action words used in actual and even metaphoric context [8,25].…”

On the dynamics of action representations evoked by names of manipulable objects.

“…These authors suggested that in addition to sensorimotor representations, parts of the motor system may code for abstract semantic features like changes of state. Glenberg et al (2008), using TMS, likewise observed modulation of corticospinal motor pathways to hand muscles when subjects read abstract sentences reflecting transfer of information (e.g., Arthur presents the argument to you). Given such findings, what steps can be taken to ensure that motor activation to words denoting a physical movement actually reflects a representation of the implied action?…”

“…The most straightforward inference-that motor activation is a necessary part of word comprehension (e.g., Gallese & Lakoff, 2005;Glenberg et al, 2008)-is contentious, given traditional linguistic analyses of meaning. These analyses assume a distinction between the abstract conceptual structure of a word (coding for semantic properties like the word's predicate-argument structure and its category membership) and the sensorimotor representations of physical objects (Jackendoff, 1996(Jackendoff, , 2002.…”

Watch Your Step Children! Learning Two-Digit Numbers Through Mirror-Based Observation of Self-Initiated Body Movements

“…Embodied theories suggest that higher cognitive processes, like math and language, are ultimately based on sensorimotor codes within a generalized system that was originally developed to control an organism's motor behavior and perceive the world around it (Barsalou 1999). Evidence for this embodied cognition paradigm comes from many different research domains, ranging from research on action semantics (Lindemann et al 2006), language and reading comprehension (De Koning and Van der Schoot 2013;Zwaan and Taylor 2006), and cognitive neuroscience (Glenberg et al 2008;Martin 2007). These studies show that visual and motor processes are activated in the brain during the performance of cognitive tasks (e.g., math, reading, problem solving), while semantic codes are active when participants perform motor tasks, suggesting a close interrelationship between cognitive and sensorimotor processes.…”