Differential modulation of word recognition by semantic and spatial orienting of attention.

In the present study, we investigated the ability to orient attention to abstract associative features of complex stimuli, more specifically, to the semantic categories of visual word stimuli. We compared the behavioral and electrophysiological effects of semantic orienting with those elicited by sp...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Cristescu, T, Nobre, A
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2008
_version_ 1797060820636532736
author Cristescu, T
Nobre, A
author_facet Cristescu, T
Nobre, A
author_sort Cristescu, T
collection OXFORD
description In the present study, we investigated the ability to orient attention to abstract associative features of complex stimuli, more specifically, to the semantic categories of visual word stimuli. We compared the behavioral and electrophysiological effects of semantic orienting with those elicited by spatial orienting to word stimuli. Two parallel, cued lexical-decision tasks, with semantic- or spatial-orienting cues, were used. Results showed that both semantic and spatial orienting facilitated behavioral performance. The event-related potential analysis revealed different and non-overlapping patterns of modulation of word processing by semantic and spatial orienting. Modulation by semantic orienting started later, affecting only the potentials linked to conceptual or semantic processing (N300 and N400). The pattern of N300/N400 modulation in the semantic-orienting condition was similar to that observed in semantic-priming tasks, and was compatible with the operation of controlled semantic processes. Spatial orienting significantly enhanced the amplitude of the early visual potential P1 as well as the language-related N400 potential. These findings showed that the similar end-result of behavioral facilitation by semantic and spatial orienting is achieved through largely distinct mechanisms acting upon separate levels of stimulus analysis.
first_indexed 2024-03-06T20:22:19Z
format Journal article
id oxford-uuid:2e3d2925-8e8d-46a4-8431-d9a07b60349d
institution University of Oxford
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-06T20:22:19Z
publishDate 2008
record_format dspace
spelling oxford-uuid:2e3d2925-8e8d-46a4-8431-d9a07b60349d2022-03-26T12:47:43ZDifferential modulation of word recognition by semantic and spatial orienting of attention.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:2e3d2925-8e8d-46a4-8431-d9a07b60349dEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2008Cristescu, TNobre, AIn the present study, we investigated the ability to orient attention to abstract associative features of complex stimuli, more specifically, to the semantic categories of visual word stimuli. We compared the behavioral and electrophysiological effects of semantic orienting with those elicited by spatial orienting to word stimuli. Two parallel, cued lexical-decision tasks, with semantic- or spatial-orienting cues, were used. Results showed that both semantic and spatial orienting facilitated behavioral performance. The event-related potential analysis revealed different and non-overlapping patterns of modulation of word processing by semantic and spatial orienting. Modulation by semantic orienting started later, affecting only the potentials linked to conceptual or semantic processing (N300 and N400). The pattern of N300/N400 modulation in the semantic-orienting condition was similar to that observed in semantic-priming tasks, and was compatible with the operation of controlled semantic processes. Spatial orienting significantly enhanced the amplitude of the early visual potential P1 as well as the language-related N400 potential. These findings showed that the similar end-result of behavioral facilitation by semantic and spatial orienting is achieved through largely distinct mechanisms acting upon separate levels of stimulus analysis.
spellingShingle Cristescu, T
Nobre, A
Differential modulation of word recognition by semantic and spatial orienting of attention.
title Differential modulation of word recognition by semantic and spatial orienting of attention.
title_full Differential modulation of word recognition by semantic and spatial orienting of attention.
title_fullStr Differential modulation of word recognition by semantic and spatial orienting of attention.
title_full_unstemmed Differential modulation of word recognition by semantic and spatial orienting of attention.
title_short Differential modulation of word recognition by semantic and spatial orienting of attention.
title_sort differential modulation of word recognition by semantic and spatial orienting of attention
work_keys_str_mv AT cristescut differentialmodulationofwordrecognitionbysemanticandspatialorientingofattention
AT nobrea differentialmodulationofwordrecognitionbysemanticandspatialorientingofattention