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The N400 as a snapshot of interactive processing: Evidence from regression analyses of orthographic neighbor and lexical associate effects
Author(s) -
Laszlo Sarah,
Federmeier Kara D.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2010.01058.x
Subject(s) - n400 , psychology , stimulus (psychology) , lexical access , orthographic projection , semantic memory , semantics (computer science) , natural language processing , cognitive psychology , electroencephalography , speech recognition , cognition , communication , artificial intelligence , computer science , event related potential , neuroscience , psychiatry , programming language
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.