Predictability, plausibility, and two late ERP positivities during written sentence comprehension
Katherine A DeLong1, Laura Quante2, Marta Kutas3
1University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Department of Cognitive Science, USA.
Neuropsychologia
|June 24, 2014
Summary
This study investigated brain responses to predictable and plausible words during sentence processing. Findings reveal distinct electrical brain activities for word predictability versus semantic plausibility, crucial for understanding language comprehension.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psycholinguistics
- Neuroscience of Language
Background:
- Late positive event-related potential (ERP) components are linked to word predictability during sentence processing.
- Previous research suggested two distinct positivities: a parietal for semantic reanalysis and a frontal for congruent but unpredicted words.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis of two distinct positivities (parietal and frontal) in a single experimental setup.
- To dissociate brain processes related to sentential predictability and plausibility during written sentence comprehension.
Main Methods:
- Two event-related potential (ERP) studies were conducted.
- Experiment 1 involved a post-hoc analysis of data varying in cloze probability (predictability) and plausibility.
- Experiment 2 manipulated predictability and plausibility in a controlled manner.
Main Results:
- Distinct post-N400 positivities were observed in both studies.
- An anterior positivity was associated with plausible, low cloze probability words.
- A posterior positivity was linked to semantically anomalous sentence continuations.
Conclusions:
- The findings support a dissociation between brain processes for word predictability and plausibility.
- These dual positivities, alongside the N400, offer critical insights for neural and psycholinguistic models of sentence processing.
- This research clarifies the distinct neural underpinnings of predictability and plausibility in language comprehension.
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