Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Fixed Action Patterns01:06

Fixed Action Patterns

16.0K
A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.
16.0K
Causes of Social Behavior I: Actions and Characteristics of Individuals01:30

Causes of Social Behavior I: Actions and Characteristics of Individuals

477
The actions and characteristics of others heavily influence the causes of social behaviors. Emotional expressions serve as powerful social signals, shaping behaviors and interactions in significant ways. Whether through direct observation or subconscious processing, individuals constantly adjust their responses based on the emotions and attributes of those around them.Emotional Cues and Social ResponsesFacial expressions, tone of voice, and body language provide crucial emotional cues that...
477
Nonconscious Mimicry01:13

Nonconscious Mimicry

3.6K
Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.
3.6K
Agonism and Antagonism: Quantification01:14

Agonism and Antagonism: Quantification

1.4K
When drugs are administered, they can elicit either an agonist or antagonist effect on the body. Agonism occurs when a drug activates a specific receptor, triggering a biological response. On the other hand, antagonism happens when a drug binds to the same receptors but blocks their activation, thereby preventing a biological response.
To quantify these effects, researchers use a dose-response curve, which provides valuable information about the potency and efficacy of a drug. Potency refers to...
1.4K
Causes of Similarity-Dissimilarity Effect01:26

Causes of Similarity-Dissimilarity Effect

383
The similarity-dissimilarity effect, a fundamental concept in social psychology, explains how interpersonal similarities and differences influence attraction and social interactions. This effect is supported by three key psychological perspectives: balance theory, social comparison theory, and consensual validation.Balance Theory and Cognitive ConsistencyBalance theory, developed by Fritz Heider, posits that individuals seek cognitive consistency in their relationships. When two people share...
383
Principle of Equivalence01:18

Principle of Equivalence

1.7K
According to Albert Einstein (1897-1955), free-falling and feeling weightless are intrinsically linked. If a person were in free-fall under gravity, for example, diving towards the Earth from an airplane, they would feel completely weightless. Similarly, a person descending in a lift may feel partially weightless. Broadly speaking, it is assumed that an object in a uniform gravitational field and an object undergoing constant acceleration in the absence of gravity are under the same...
1.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Large language models are not about natural language.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026
Same author

Iron-Driven synaptic remodeling redefines stress anxiety.

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2026
Same author

Midwifery Care in Italy: A Policy Analysis.

Policy, politics & nursing practice·2026
Same author

Midwifery Care: An Evolutionary Concept Analysis.

Nursing open·2025
Same author

Interventions to Prevent Patient- and Visitor-Perpetrated Violence Against Nurses in the Emergency Department: A Scoping Review.

Journal of advanced nursing·2025
Same author

Bridging National and International Midwifery Regulations: A Thematic Analysis of Italian Key Documents, Desk Review, and Normative Mapping.

Policy, politics & nursing practice·2025
Same journal

Misinformation as strategy: Epistemic consequences and the undermining of shared truth.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

Geographical psychology: Spatial variation in psychological phenomena and their consequences.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

Multi-brain neurofeedback: what are we training for?

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

The developing vocal self.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

Searching beyond decrements: Attentional guidance across the adult lifespan.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

Looking into working memory through micro eye movements.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 4, 2026

Author Spotlight: A Novel Setup to Conduct Naturalistic Laboratory Experiments with Real Human Actors in Scenarios
07:43

Author Spotlight: A Novel Setup to Conduct Naturalistic Laboratory Experiments with Real Human Actors in Scenarios

Published on: August 4, 2023

2.8K

On the similarity between syntax and actions.

Andrea Moro1

  • 1Institute of Advanced Study IUSS Pavia, Piazza Vittoria 15, 27100 Pavia, Italy.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|December 28, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Linguistic sentence structure, organized hierarchically, differs significantly from action and motor planning. This distinction impacts evolutionary theories of language and cognition.

More Related Videos

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation
12:33

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation

Published on: December 31, 2013

10.6K
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

16.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 4, 2026

Author Spotlight: A Novel Setup to Conduct Naturalistic Laboratory Experiments with Real Human Actors in Scenarios
07:43

Author Spotlight: A Novel Setup to Conduct Naturalistic Laboratory Experiments with Real Human Actors in Scenarios

Published on: August 4, 2023

2.8K
Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation
12:33

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation

Published on: December 31, 2013

10.6K
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

16.6K

Area of Science:

  • Linguistics
  • Cognitive Science
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • 20th-century linguistics established that sentence structure is hierarchical and recursive.
  • Recent proposals suggest parallels between linguistic hierarchical structure and action/motor planning.
  • Understanding these parallels is crucial for evolutionary perspectives on cognition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the proposed similarities between linguistic hierarchical structure and action/motor planning.
  • To identify key differences on theoretical and empirical grounds.
  • To assess the implications of these differences for evolutionary theories.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical analysis of linguistic structure and motor planning.
  • Empirical comparison of cognitive processes involved in syntax and action.
  • Review of existing literature on hierarchical organization in language and action.

Main Results:

  • Significant theoretical and empirical differences exist between linguistic hierarchical structure and action/motor planning.
  • The proposed parallel between language and motor planning is not suitable.
  • These differences challenge current evolutionary perspectives.

Conclusions:

  • The hierarchical organization of language is fundamentally distinct from motor planning.
  • This distinction has profound implications for understanding the evolution of human cognition and language.
  • Future research should consider these differences in evolutionary models.