Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
06:15
Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism
Published on: October 3, 2018
Activation and persistence of implicit causality information in spoken language comprehension
Pirita Pyykkönen1, Juhani Järvikivi
1Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Finland. pirita@CoLi.Uni-SB.DE
Experimental Psychology
|February 24, 2010
Summary
People immediately infer implicit causality from verbs during language comprehension. This information persists but doesn't solely guide pronoun resolution, interacting with other discourse cues instead.
Area of Science:
- Psycholinguistics
- Cognitive Psychology
- Computational Linguistics
Background:
- Implicit causality (IC) influences how people understand sentences.
- The immediate focusing account suggests IC information is processed instantly.
- Previous research has explored the role of IC in discourse comprehension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the activation and persistence of implicit causality information in spoken language.
- To determine if IC information influences antecedent resolution for ambiguous pronouns.
- To examine the interaction of IC with other discourse cues.
Main Methods:
- A visual world eye-tracking study was employed.
- Participants comprehended spoken language containing implicit causality.
- Eye movements were monitored to track processing and attention.
Main Results:
- Implicit causality information is activated immediately upon encountering verbs.
- IC information is persistent throughout discourse processing.
- IC did not act as a privileged cue for resolving ambiguous pronouns, instead interacting with other focus cues.
Conclusions:
- Implicit causality is rapidly inferred during language comprehension.
- IC information plays a persistent role but does not solely determine pronoun resolution.
- The influence of IC is modulated by other discourse factors and referent prominence.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Implicit Memories
Implicit memories, also known as non-declarative memories, are long-term memories that function outside of conscious awareness. These memories influence behavior and skills without explicit knowledge. This type of memory is evident in tasks like playing tennis, snowboarding, and texting. Implicit memory has three subsystems: procedural memory, conditioning, and priming. This type of memory is essential in various activities, from everyday tasks to specialized skills.
One key aspect of implicit...
One key aspect of implicit...
01:27Language and Cognition
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
01:22Purposive Learning
E. C. Tolman emphasized the purposiveness of behavior — the idea that much of our behavior is goal-directed. For instance, employees who aim for a promotion work diligently to meet their targets. Tolman argued that when classical conditioning and operant conditioning occur, the organism acquires certain expectations. In classical conditioning, a child might fear a dog because they expect it to bite. In operant conditioning, a person might consistently work overtime because they expect a bonus...
01:15Subconsciousness and No Awareness
The concept of subconscious awareness refers to the processing of information below the level of conscious thought, which significantly influences both behaviors and decisions. It is also known as waking subconscious awareness. This complex level of cognition operates without the direct awareness of the individual, facilitating rapid and simultaneous handling of multiple information streams.
An illustrative example of subconscious processing is its role in problem-solving. Often, individuals...
An illustrative example of subconscious processing is its role in problem-solving. Often, individuals...
01:23Implicit Personality Theories
Implicit personality theory explains how individuals make assumptions about the relationships between personality traits, behaviors, and character types. When people learn that someone possesses a particular trait, they tend to infer the presence of other related characteristics, forming a cohesive impression. This cognitive shortcut plays a crucial role in social interactions and interpersonal judgments.Central Traits and Their InfluenceSolomon Asch's seminal 1946 study highlighted the power...
01:28Automatic Processing and Automatic Social Behavior
Automatic processing refers to the cognitive operations that occur without conscious intent or awareness, playing a fundamental role in shaping social cognition and behavior. These processes enable individuals to navigate complex social environments efficiently by relying on mental shortcuts and pre-existing knowledge structures known as schemas. One of the most influential mechanisms underlying automatic processing is priming, which subtly activates mental representations through exposure to...