Traditionally, concepts are conceived as abstract mental entities distinct from perceptual or motor brain systems. However, recent results let assume modality-specific representations of concepts. The ultimate test for grounding in perception requires the fulfillment following four markers: conceptual processing during (1) an implicit task should activate (2) a region (3) rapidly and (4) selectively. Here, we show using functional magnetic resonance imaging recordings event-related...

In response time (RT) research, RT outliers are typically excluded from statistical analysis to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Nevertheless, there exist several methods for outlier exclusion. This poses question, how these differ with respect recovering uncontaminated distribution. present simulation study, two distributions a given population difference were simulated in each iteration. RTs replaced by following different approaches. The first approach generated at tails of...

According to classical theories, automatic processes are autonomous and independent of higher level cognitive influence. In contrast, the authors propose that processing depends on attentional sensitization task-congruent pathways. 3 experiments, tested this hypothesis with a modified masked semantic priming paradigm during lexical decision task by measuring event-related potentials (ERPs): Before prime presentation, participants attended an induction either or perceptual stimulus features...

Traditionally, concepts are assumed to be situational invariant mental knowledge entities (conceptual stability), which represented in a unitary brain system distinct from sensory and motor areas (amodality). However, accumulating evidence suggests that embodied perception action their conceptual features stored within modality-specific semantic maps the cortex. Nonetheless, first traditional assumption of stability largely remains unquestioned. Here, we tested notion flexible using...

Automatic processes are usually thought to occur independently of any cognitive resources. This traditional view has been recently challenged by showing that temporal attention a target stimulus is prerequisite for "automatic" response priming. The event-related potential (ERP) study reported here extends this research pursuing somewhat different approach. In two experiments, it was investigated whether masked semantic priming effects can be modulated the prime using cueing procedure. We...

Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were used to investigate the neurophysiological correlates of conscious and unconscious semantic processing. Masked words, which do not enter consciousness, as well visible shown modulate N400 ERP potential subsequently presented, meaningfully related target words. The is known an electrophysiological index However, for unconsciously perceived words activation decays fast within 200 ms, but increases with time consciously Thus, involves similar areas,...

Abstract Automatic processes are usually thought to occur independently of any cognitive resources. This traditional view has been recently challenged by showing that temporal attention a target stimulus is prerequisite for “automatic” response priming. The event-related potential (ERP) study reported here extends this research pursuing somewhat different approach. In two experiments, it was investigated whether masked semantic priming effects can be modulated the prime using cueing...

Abstract Concepts are composed of features related to different sensory and motor modalities such as vision, sound, action. It is a matter controversy whether conceptual represented in sensory-motor areas reflecting the specific learning experience during acquisition. In order address this issue, we assessed plasticity representations by training human participants with novel objects under conditions. These were assigned categories that for one class categories, overall shape was diagnostic...

Digital writing devices associated with the use of computers, tablet PCs, or mobile phones are increasingly replacing by hand. It is, however, controversially discussed how modes influence reading and performance in children at start literacy. On one hand, easiness typing on digital may accelerate young children, who have less developed sensory-motor skills. other meaningful coupling between action perception during handwriting, which establishes memory traces, could facilitate written...

The relation of abstract concepts to the modality-specific systems is discussed controversially. According classical approaches, semantic content can only be coded by amodal or verbal-symbolic representations distinct from sensory and motor systems, because lack a clear physical referent. Grounded cognition theories in contrast propose that do not depend on verbal system, but also variety modal involving perception, action, emotion internal states. In order contribute this debate, we...

The grounding of concepts in the sensorimotor brain systems is controversially discussed. Grounded cognition models propose that are represented modality-specific sensorimotor, but also emotional and introspective areas depending on specific experiences during concept acquisition. Accumulating evidence suggests concrete closely linked to systems, whereas mere existence abstract seems contradict grounded approaches. Here, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we adopted a theory-driven...

Conceptual knowledge is central to cognitive abilities such as word comprehension. Previous neuroimaging evidence indicates that concepts are at least partly composed of perceptual and motor features represented in the same modality-specific brain regions involved actual perception action. However, it unclear what extent retrieval perceptual-motor resulting engagement depend on concurrent task. To address this issue, we measured activity 40 young healthy participants using functional...