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Related Concept Videos

Encoding01:19

Encoding

Information enters the brain through encoding, which is the input of information into the memory system. Once sensory information is received from the environment, the brain labels or codes it. The information is then organized with similar information and connected to existing concepts. Encoding occurs through automatic processing and effortful processing.
Automatic processing involves the encoding of details like time, space, frequency, and the meaning of words, usually done without conscious...
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
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Language and Cognition01:27

Language 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.
Components of Language01:24

Components of Language

Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs. “eh”). Phonemes combine to...
Information Processing Approach01:30

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The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
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Language Development

Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Eye Tracking During Visually Situated Language Comprehension: Flexibility and Limitations in Uncovering Visual Context Effects
07:36

Eye Tracking During Visually Situated Language Comprehension: Flexibility and Limitations in Uncovering Visual Context Effects

Published on: November 30, 2018

Embodied language comprehension: encoding-based and goal-driven processes.

Renske S Hoedemaker1, Peter C Gordon1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.

Journal of Experimental Psychology. General
|March 27, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Embodied cognition theories suggest language understanding involves sensorimotor simulation. This study found size information for words is goal-driven, not automatic, challenging strong embodied theories.

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Last Updated: May 13, 2026

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Using Eye Movements Recorded in the Visual World Paradigm to Explore the Online Processing of Spoken Language

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Linguistics
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Theories of embodied language comprehension posit that understanding language involves simulating sensorimotor experiences.
  • Strong evidence requires demonstrating sensorimotor activation independent of task-specific goals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether sensorimotor representations are activated automatically during language encoding or are goal-driven.
  • To test the predictions of embodied cognition theories regarding language comprehension.

Main Methods:

  • Three eye-tracking experiments involving participants encoding triplets of numbers, objects, or animal names.
  • Tasks included size comparison and recognition memory.
  • Analysis focused on decision times and encoding times.

Main Results:

  • A symbolic distance effect was observed for size comparisons of words and numbers.
  • Semantic size information did not affect word encoding when irrelevant to the task (Experiment 2).
  • Numerical magnitude representations showed both encoding-based and goal-driven activation.

Conclusions:

  • Activation of size information associated with words appears to be goal-driven, not automatic.
  • This finding challenges strong embodied cognition theories that claim automatic sensorimotor simulation during language comprehension.
  • Numerical magnitude activation is distinct, showing both automatic and goal-driven components.