A5028025153- Action Observation and Synchronization
- Language, Metaphor, and Cognition
- Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
- Hearing Impairment and Communication
- Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies
- Linguistic Studies and Language Acquisition
- Embodied and Extended Cognition
- Italian Literature and Culture
- Educational and Social Studies
- Child and Animal Learning Development
- Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation
- Categorization, perception, and language
- Language and cultural evolution
- Multisensory perception and integration
- Neurology and Historical Studies
- Spanish Linguistics and Language Studies
- Social Representations and Identity
- Neuroscience and Music Perception
- Phonetics and Phonology Research
- Reading and Literacy Development
- Semiotics and Representation Studies
- Media Influence and Health
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Writing and Handwriting Education
- Human Motion and Animation
University of Messina
2021-2025
University of Parma
2012-2019
University of Palermo
2011-2016
Introduction Previous research has shown that experimentally manipulated physical states of instability negatively affect judgments and opinions. Based on this result, in the current study we want to investigate whether processing metaphorical expressions related (e.g., “Our economy is shaky”) underpinned by conceptual metaphor EMOTIONAL STABILITY IS BALANCE affects participants’ judgments. Methods Three hundred participants were assigned three experimental groups. Each group was presented...
Several studies demonstrated that explicit forms of negation processing (e.g., "I don't know") recruits motor inhibitory mechanisms. However, whether this is also true for implicit negation, in which the negative meaning implicated but not explicitly lexicalized sentence ignore"), has never been studied before. Two Go/No-Go studies, differed only time-windows to respond Go stimulus, were carried out. In each, participants (N = 86 experiment 1; N 87 2) coloured circle while reading...
In this study, we conducted a behavioural experiment using literal, idiomatic, conventional and novel metaphorical action sentences. Participants viewed an video, immediately after sentence containing verb that did (matching modality) or not (mismatching match the observed action. All sentences were presented both in matching modality mismatching modality. had to indicate whether made sense by pressing designated response key. We recorded participants' reaction times accuracy. found no...
Abstract In this study we carried out a behavioral experiment comparing action language comprehension in L1 (Italian) and L2 (English). Participants were Italian native speakers who had acquired the second late (after age of 10). They performed semantic judgments on literal, idiomatic metaphorical sentences after viewing video hand performing an that was related or unrelated to verb used sentence. Results showed responses literal faster when depicted rather than used. No differences found...
The involvement of the sensorimotor system in language understanding has been widely demonstrated. However, role context these studies only recently started to be addressed. Though words are bearers a semantic potential, meaning is product pragmatic process. It needs situated disambiguated. aim this study was test hypothesis that embodied simulation occurring during linguistic processing contextually modulated extent same sentence, depending on utterance, leads activation different...
In this paper we propose a way in which cognitive neuroscience could provide new insights on three aspects of social cognition: intersubjectivity, the human self, and language. We emphasize crucial role body, conceived as constitutive source pre-reflective consciousness self other. critical view contemporary neuroscience, arguing that brain level description is necessary but not sufficient condition for studying language; are only properly visible if coupled with full appreciation their...
Vitality Forms (VFs) constitute the dynamic essence of human actions, providing insights into how individuals engage in activities. The ability to perceive and express VFs during interpersonal interactions is pivotal for understanding others' intentions, behaviors, fostering effective social communication. Despite their ubiquity all research exploring role neurodivergent conditions related communicative skills, particularly autism, remains limited. This study aims investigate expression...
AbstractIs displacement possible without language? This question was addressed in a recent work by Liszkowski and colleagues (Liszkowski, Schafer, Carpenter, & Tomasello, 2009). The authors carried out an experiment to demonstrate that 12-month-old prelinguistic infants can communicate about absent entities using pointing gestures, while chimpanzees cannot. main hypothesis of their study is does not depend on language but is, however, exclusively human instead depends species-specific...
Abstract In the last decades, embodied approach to cognition and language gained momentum in scientific debate, leading evidence different aspects of processing. However, while bodily grounding concrete concepts seems be relatively not controversial, abstract aspects, like negation logical operator, are still today one main challenges for this research paradigm. framework, present study has a twofold aim: (1) assess whether mechanisms motor inhibition underpin processing sentential negation,...
Simulation of propositional content does not sufficiently explain real-life linguistic activity, even for action-related language. In addition, how we get from to implicit and inferential meaning needs be explained. Indeed, simulative understanding is immediate, automatic reflex-like while an explicit interpretative act, if always needed, still a part many activities. The aim this paper present the hypothesis that speaking complex ability realized by means at least two different mechanisms...
We investigated the impact of exposure to literary and popular fiction on psychological essentialism. Exposure was measured by using Author Recognition Test, which allows us separate authors fiction. Psychological essentialism assessed discreteness subscale scale in Study 1, three subscales same (such as discreteness, informativeness, biological basis) 2 that pre-registered. Results showed negatively predicts subscales. The results emerged controlling for political ideology, a variable is...
By looking at first-language learning, we can see three broad categories in the acquisition of negation (see DIMROTH 2010 for a review):1) rejection/refusal; 2) disappearance/ non-existence/unfulfilled expectation; 3) denial. Denial is most complex form and last to be acquired. I present hypothesis that denial relies on false belief understanding. Evidence from normally developed Autistic subjects confirms this hypothesis. Competence linguistic usually acquired by age 2 years half 3 years....
In the past few years, behavioural, neuroimaging and neurophysiological studies have been suggesting that Embodied Simulation represents a constitutive feature of language understanding. However, this claim is still controversial, as definition Simulation. paper, I aim at providing more suitable will then apply to study bodily metaphors. gets us attuned with our social world it provides both brain disposition, which starting point many cognitive processes. Exploitation mechanism simulation...