Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 1, 2026
08:17
A Semantic Priming Event-related Potential ERP Task to Study Lexico-semantic and Visuo-semantic Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 12, 2018
11.3K
The Intriguingly Social N400 of Preverbal Infants
Bálint Forgács1,2, Eugenio Parise3, Judit Gervain4
1Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Developmental Neurobiology
|March 31, 2026
Summary
Infant language acquisition may be influenced by Theory of Mind (ToM), the ability to understand others' mental states. This study found that infants showed distinct brain responses (N400) to incorrect labels when an observer was present, suggesting social cognition impacts semantic processing.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
Background:
- Neural processing of language may interact with social cognition.
- Semantic processing, measured by the N400 event-related potential, is sensitive to Theory of Mind (ToM) manipulations.
- ToM is the ability to attribute mental content to social partners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of social context on semantic processing in 14-month-old infants.
- To examine whether Theory of Mind (ToM) influences the N400 response during early language development.
- To explore the role of ToM in semantic level computations in infants.
Main Methods:
- 14-month-old infants were presented with correctly or incorrectly labeled objects.
- The N400 event-related potential was measured in the presence and absence of an observer.
- Object labeling served as the N400 manipulation within a social context.
Main Results:
- The N400 response was enhanced in the presence of a social partner compared to its absence.
- This enhancement of the N400 response occurred specifically for incongruent (incorrect) labels.
- Infants' semantic processing was modulated by social presence and label congruence.
Conclusions:
- Theory of Mind (ToM) may impact semantic processing at the developmental onset of the N400 response.
- Findings suggest ToM might play a fundamental role in language acquisition, potentially preceding language development.
- Infant word learning may rely on a semantic system that processes linguistic content from the perspective of communicative intent.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Language Development
1.1K
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.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
1.1K
01:21The Nativist Approach
581
The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to...
581
01:14Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development
2.4K
The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
Exploration...
2.4K
01:29Non-Verbal Cues
469
Non-verbal communication extends beyond gestures and facial expressions to include vocal elements known as paralanguage. Paralanguage consists of non-verbal vocal cues such as pitch, loudness, speech rate, pauses, and non-verbal vocalizations like laughter, sighs, and moans. These elements not only accompany speech but also provide critical emotional and contextual information.The Role of Paralanguage in CommunicationParalanguage adds depth to spoken language by conveying emotions and...
469
01:19Piaget's Stage 4 of Cognitive Development
956
The formal operational stage, as described in Piaget's cognitive development theory, begins around age 11 and extends into adulthood. It marks the emergence of advanced cognitive abilities that differentiate adolescent and adult thinking from those of younger children. This stage is characterized by abstract reasoning, hypothetical-deductive reasoning, and a more complex understanding of self and others.
Abstract Reasoning and Hypothetical-Deductive Thinking
Unlike the concrete operational...
Abstract Reasoning and Hypothetical-Deductive Thinking
Unlike the concrete operational...
956
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
1.2K
Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Primary Temperament Types
1.2K