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Volume 15, Issue 2
  • ISSN 1871-1340
  • E-ISSN: 1871-1375
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Abstract

Abstract

The N400 has been seen to be larger for concrete than abstract words, and for pseudowords than real words. Using a word vector analysis to calculate semantic associates (SA), as well as ratings for emotional arousal (EA), and a measure of orthographic neighbourhood (ON), the present study investigated the relation between these factors and N400 amplitudes during a lexical decision task using Swedish word stimuli. Four noun categories differing in concreteness: (), () () and () were compared with (). Results showed that N400 amplitudes increased in the order < < < < . A regression analysis showed that the amplitude of the N400 decreased the more semantic associates a word had and the higher the rating for emotional arousal it had. The N400 also increased the more orthographic neighbours a word had. Results provide support for the hierarchical organisation of concrete words assumed in lexical semantics. They also demonstrate how affective information facilitates meaning processing.

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2020-11-06
2024-12-09

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The role of affective meaning, semantic associates, and orthographic neighbours in modulating the N400 in single words
The Mental Lexicon 15, 161 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1075/ml.19021.blo
/content/journals/10.1075/ml.19021.blo
/content/journals/10.1075/ml.19021.blo
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): concreteness; emotional arousal; lexical decision, word vector; N400; orthographic neighbours: ERP; semantic associates; semantic specificity

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