The N400 as a snapshot of interactive processing: Evidence from regression analyses of orthographic neighbor and lexical associate effects

Linking print with meaning tends to be divided into subprocesses, such as recognition of an input's lexical entry and subsequent access of semantics. However, recent results suggest that the set of semantic features activated by an input is broader than implied by a view wherein access serially...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychophysiology 2011-02, Vol.48 (2), p.176-186
Main Authors: Laszlo, Sarah, Federmeier, Kara D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Data processing
EEG
Electroencephalography
Electroencephalography - methods
Event-related potentials
Evoked Potentials - physiology
Female
Humans
Information processing
Language
Male
Multiple regression
N400
Neurosciences
Orthographic neighborhood
Orthography
Physiological psychology
Reading
Regression Analysis
Semantic access
Semantics
Young Adult
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Summary:Linking print with meaning tends to be divided into subprocesses, such as recognition of an input's lexical entry and subsequent access of semantics. However, recent results suggest that the set of semantic features activated by an input is broader than implied by a view wherein access serially follows recognition. EEG was collected from participants who viewed items varying in number and frequency of both orthographic neighbors and lexical associates. Regression analysis of single item ERPs replicated past findings, showing that N400 amplitudes are greater for items with more neighbors, and further revealed that N400 amplitudes increase for items with more lexical associates and with higher frequency neighbors or associates. Together, the data suggest that in the N400 time window semantic features of items broadly related to inputs are active, consistent with models in which semantic access takes place in parallel with stimulus recognition.
ISSN:0048-5772
1540-5958
1469-8986
DOI:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2010.01058.x