Three target words (T1, T2, and T3) were embedded in a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) stream of non-word distractors, and participants were required to report the targets at the end of each RSVP stream. T2 and T3 were semantically related words in half of the RSVP streams, and semantically unrelated words in the other half of the RSVP streams. Using an identical design, Pesciarelli, et al. (2007; Biological Psychology) observed distinct reflections of the T2-T3 semantic relationship on the P2 and N400 components of event-related potential (ERP) time-locked to T3, suggesting an early, automatic, source of P2 semantic effects and a late, controlled, source of N400 semantic effects. Here, P2 and N400 semantic effects were examined by manipulating list-wide context. Relative to subjects performing in a semantically unbiased context, subjects over‐exposed to filler RSVP streams always including semantically related T2/T3 words reported a dilution of T3-locked P2 semantic effects and a magnification of T3-locked N400 semantic effects. Opposite effects on P2 and N400 ERP components of list-wide semantic context are discussed in relation to recent proposals on the representational status of RSVP stimuli at processing stages preceding consolidation in visual short-term memory.

Event-related potentials distinguish between distinct sources of semantic activation in the attentional blink

Roberto Dell'Acqua;Francesca Peressotti;Francesca Pesciarelli
2012

Abstract

Three target words (T1, T2, and T3) were embedded in a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) stream of non-word distractors, and participants were required to report the targets at the end of each RSVP stream. T2 and T3 were semantically related words in half of the RSVP streams, and semantically unrelated words in the other half of the RSVP streams. Using an identical design, Pesciarelli, et al. (2007; Biological Psychology) observed distinct reflections of the T2-T3 semantic relationship on the P2 and N400 components of event-related potential (ERP) time-locked to T3, suggesting an early, automatic, source of P2 semantic effects and a late, controlled, source of N400 semantic effects. Here, P2 and N400 semantic effects were examined by manipulating list-wide context. Relative to subjects performing in a semantically unbiased context, subjects over‐exposed to filler RSVP streams always including semantically related T2/T3 words reported a dilution of T3-locked P2 semantic effects and a magnification of T3-locked N400 semantic effects. Opposite effects on P2 and N400 ERP components of list-wide semantic context are discussed in relation to recent proposals on the representational status of RSVP stimuli at processing stages preceding consolidation in visual short-term memory.
2012
World Congress of Psychophysiology of the International Organization of Psychophysiology
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/3014315
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