An ERP Study Of Embodied Effect In Semantic Comprehension Of Chinese Action Words

Semantic comprehension is a high-level cognitive activity.Embodied cognition theory emphasizes that our body plays a key role in the cognitive processing.Previous studies have shown that the semantic processing of verbs can activate sensorimotor regions,and these regions are coupled with those activated by the execution of action,but the results of previous studies are inconsistent.Therefore,the present study used the Go/No Go semantic judgment task to explore the embodied effect of semantic processing of Chinese body action words from the behavioral and ERP levels.The study included two experiments.In Experiment 1,a two-factor mixed experimental design was used to investigate whether the consistency effect between verb and action execution existed under the conditions of two types of action response.In Experiment 2,a mixed experimental design of 2(movement learning group,simple learning group)×3(hand movement words,foot movement words,and mouth movement words)was used to investigate the time course of embodied effect in semantic understanding of Chinese body movement words.Experiment through a response to the subjects with correct statistical analysis and twofactor repeated measurement the results of variance analysis,the following conclusion: Chinese body word processing is the consistency of action and action execution effect.In other words,word type and motor response type can promote the motor response of the subjects.In Experiment 2,ERP was used to analyze the temporal process and components of semantic comprehension of Chinese body action words.The following conclusions were drawn :(1)The learning condition had an effect on the learning effect of Chinese body action words,that is,under the condition of motion learning,the participants had better learning effect on Chinese false words.(2)The sensorimotor system is activated in the early stage of semantic comprehension of Chinese action words,which proves that the activation of sensorimotor system is rapid and automatic.(3)There was a consistent effect between the motor regions activated by semantic processing of Chinese body action words and the brain regions activated by action execution.The present study proves the embodied effect of semantic understanding of Chinese action words.