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Time is -ending: Sublexical information activates the horizontal mental time line in word processing
Martina Abbondanza1, Simona Amenta1, Luca Rinaldi2
1Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca.
Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition
|February 8, 2024
Summary
Verb endings, not just whole words, activate the mental time line (MTL). This spatial representation of time is triggered even by non-words and when temporal processing is not the main task.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psycholinguistics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The mental time line (MTL) links time concepts to spatial dimensions, with past events on the left and future events on the right.
- Previous research shows faster responses to past- and future-related words using left and right hands, respectively.
- It remains unclear if the MTL is activated by entire words or by smaller units like verb endings, and if this activation is automatic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether verb endings convey conceptual information that activates the mental time line (MTL).
- To determine if MTL activation occurs even when temporal information is not explicitly processed.
- To examine the role of sublexical cues in spatial-temporal associations.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments were conducted using Italian verbs and pseudo-verbs with distinct temporal endings (e.g., -avo for past, -erò for future).
- Experiment 1 involved a temporal categorization task.
- Experiment 2 used a lexical decision task to assess automatic activation.
- Experiment 3 evaluated responses to stimuli with time-unrelated fillers.
Main Results:
- Both real verbs and pseudo-verbs with temporal endings were spatially coded on the mental time line (MTL) in the temporal categorization task.
- The MTL was activated by verb endings even during a lexical decision task, where temporal information was irrelevant.
- The spatial-temporal congruency effect was not observed when processing mixed stimuli including time-unrelated fillers.
Conclusions:
- Sublexical units, specifically verb endings, carry semantic information that contributes to the formation of spatial-temporal associations.
- The mental time line (MTL) can be activated by these sublexical cues, suggesting a degree of automaticity in this process.
- These findings highlight the role of linguistic structure in shaping abstract conceptual representations like the mental time line.
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