具身认知视角下软硬触觉经验对性别角色认知的影响

文章从具身隐喻的角度, 探讨了软硬触觉经验与男女性别角色认知的交互影响。实验1采用行为实验法, 考察了软硬的触觉经验对性别分类的影响; 实验2采用内隐联想范式, 探讨了男女性别角色词的加工能否激活软硬的隐喻表征; 实验3通过概念启动和知觉判断任务, 考察了性别角色词的概念加工对物体软硬知觉的影响。得出以下结论：(1)社会性别分类表征和社会性别角色表征可通过软硬进行隐喻表征; (2)性别角色词概念的加工会影响物体软硬知觉的判断, 认知判断存在具身效应。     

宽容概念的大小隐喻表征：双向性及社会性

通过3个实验探讨宽容概念与大小概念之间的隐喻关系。实验1采用Stroop范式验证了宽容概念的大小隐喻效应;实验2采用IAT范式,证实了被试对宽容概念的加工会影响他们的大小感知,从而表明了人们对抽象概念的加工会影响对具体概念的感知。实验3采用社会情境范式表明,此隐喻效应会影响被试对图片中陌生人物宽容性的感知,证实了该隐喻表征的社会性。结果表明,宽容概念存在大小隐喻表征且该隐喻表征具有双向性及社会性。     

语境与颜色诊断性对句子理解中物体隐含颜色知觉模拟的影响

具身认知理论的代表知觉符号系统认为知识表征具有知觉特点,并假设语言理解中对于所涉及概念及其隐含属性会即时进行知觉模拟。当前研究采用句图匹配范式,通过三个实验探讨句子理解中是否会对物体隐含颜色属性进行知觉模拟及其具体条件。实验1沿用经典范式验证语言理解中对物体隐含颜色存在知觉模拟过程。实验2通过变化句子前语境考察语境是否支持对于物体隐含颜色知觉模拟的影响。实验3进一步考察当颜色属性与其对应物体存在稳定关联时(即具有高颜色诊断性的物体),在不同语境作用下是否会引起知觉表征的变化。研究结果表明,语言理解中知觉模拟过程是灵活的,语境改变会引起读者所激活的物体颜色知觉表征发生变化,并且对于高颜色诊断物体,即使缺乏支持语境,读者仍然会对句中隐含的物体特定颜色进行知觉模拟。     

不同性质汉语否定句心理加工过程的实验研究

采用词汇/图片判断范式,以不同性质的否定句和其对应的肯定句为实验材料,以词汇/图片判断的反应时和正确率为因变量指标,探讨不同性质汉语否定句的加工是否是动态变化的过程。研究分为两个大实验四个小实验。实验一采用句图匹配任务,否定句是对具体现实情境的否定,实验1a和1b分别考察句图短时间间隔和长时间间隔下否定意义的加工。实验二采用词汇判断任务,实验材料为隐喻形式的否定句。实验2a和2b分别为句词短时间间隔和长时间间隔。实验1发现短时间间隔时,句图不匹配条件下图片判断时间短于匹配时;长时间间隔时相反,句图匹配条件下图片判断时间更短。实验2发现短时间间隔时,句词不匹配条件下词汇判断时间短于匹配时,而长时间间隔时匹配与否的词汇判断时间无差异。综合两个实验结果表明,对现实情境的具体否定句符合两阶段模拟加工,被否定意义在加工早期被表征,但会因句子实际意义的通达而得到抑制;而隐喻形式的抽象否定句加工更符合抑制/保存假说,被否定意义在加工早期被表征,并在加工后期仍保留在头脑中。     

时间空间隐喻在汉语动词语义加工中的作用

通过2个实验,考察时间空间隐喻在汉语动词语义加工中的作用。实验1表明,在动词隐含延续时间判断任务中,当动词隐含延续时间的长度("长–短")与字词呈现的空间长度("宽–窄")不一致时,被试的反应慢,表明语义加工受到了干扰;实验2采取词性判断任务,发现隐含延续时间长的动词的加工时间更长,动词隐含延续时间的长度与字词呈现的空间长度不一致时,被试的加工变慢。整个研究表明,动词的隐含延续时间基于被试的知识经验和水平空间长度来表征,支持弱势的隐喻表征观。     

权力概念垂直空间隐喻表征激活的条件

本研究通过3个实验考察权力概念垂直空间隐喻表征激活的条件。实验1发现,在权力判断任务中,具有直接权力关系的相关词对和间接权力关系的无关词对都可以激活隐喻表征。实验2使用相关判断任务,只有相关词对激活了隐喻表征。这说明对词汇进行语义加工并理解权力关系是激活隐喻表征的重要条件。实验3引入水平方向干扰,并将被试的注意转移到干扰信息上,结果仍然出现了隐喻一致性效应,表明垂直空间线索不是隐喻表征激活的必要条件。     

空间隐喻和形状变化对物体内隐时间概念加工的影响

通过2个实验, 考察了空间隐喻和形状变化对物体内隐时间概念加工的影响。实验1通过对隐含时间关系的词对的语义相关判断发现, 形状变化物体隐含的“先前/后来”的时间概念与“左/右”的空间概念存在着对应关系, 断裂式变化(形状变化大)的物体比渐进式变化(形状变化小)的物体激发了更加明显的时间变化感, 但物体形状变化类型并未明显地影响对词对语义相关判断的速度和准确性。实验2通过对隐含时间关系的物体图片对的语义相关判断发现, 物体形状变化隐含的“先前/后来”的时间概念与“左/右”的空间概念亦存在着对应关系, 而且物体形状变化类型影响对物体图片对语义相关判断的速度和准确性, 被试对渐进式变化物体的语义相关判断显著快于对断裂式变化物体的语义相关判断, 错误率亦低。整个研究表明, 在物体形状变化内隐时间概念的表征中, 既存在着抽象的符号表征, 又存在着具体的形状知觉表征。研究结果支持概念双加工理论的预言。     

复合汉字刺激心理旋转加工中的整体优先效应

以复合汉字为材料,通过两个实验探讨在心理旋转加工中是否存在整体/局部优先效应。实验一检验视知觉中的整体优先效应,实验二考察心理旋转加工中是否存在整体优先效应。结果表明:延长刺激呈现时间直至被试做出反应,在正镜像判断的纯视觉任务中不存在视觉整体优先效应;在心理旋转任务中,大汉字(整体)旋转条件反应时与小汉字(局部)旋转反应时差异不显著。这些结果说明复合汉字刺激心理旋转加工中不存在整体优先效应。     

时间隐喻在汉语时间量词语义加工中的作用

通过三个实验, 考察了时间隐喻在汉语时间量词语义加工中的作用。实验1表明, 当时间量词的水平方向隐喻(“长–短”)与字词的空间长度特征(“长–短”或“宽–窄”)不一致时, 语义加工受到了干扰; 实验2表明, 虽然“高–矮”亦为字词的空间特征, 但对时间量词的语义加工没有显著的影响, 证明时间的空间隐喻受讲话者的语言使用习惯影响; 实验3表明, 通过使用不同长度的背景降低了字形变化对于语义加工的影响之后, 与字形一致、隐喻不一致的条件比, 字形和隐喻皆不一致的条件引起了更大的干扰。整个研究表明, 汉语讲话者的时间隐喻只受空间的水平方向特征(“长–短”或“宽–窄”)影响, 不受空间的竖直方向特征(“高–矮”)影响。时间概念以空间长度特征为中介, 在长时记忆中与知觉符号同时储存。     

权力概念与空间大小:具身隐喻的视角

通过3个实验考察权力概念的空间大小隐喻效应。实验1采用Stroop经典实验范式的变式,考察了权力概念与空间大小维度具身的内隐关系;实验2采用社会情境实验范式,确认了在社会情境模式下,空间大小对权力概念加工的影响;实验3通过概念启动和知觉判断任务,证实了抽象权力概念的加工对空间大小知觉的影响。通过研究得出以下主要结论:(1)权力与空间大小之间存在隐喻关系,权力强的被知觉为空间上大的,而权力弱的则被知觉为空间上小的。(2)权力空间大小隐喻效应具有双向性,空间大小会影响权力概念的加工,权力概念的加工也会影响到空间大小的知觉。     

Mighty metaphors: behavioral and ERP evidence that power shifts attention on a vertical dimension

Thinking about the abstract concept power may automatically activate the spatial up-down image schema (powerful up; powerless down) and consequently direct spatial attention to the image schema-congruent location. Participants indicated whether a word represented a powerful or powerless person (e.g. ‘king’ or ‘servant’). Following each decision, they identified a target at the top or bottom of the visual field. In Experiment 1 participants identified the target faster when their spatial position was congruent with the perceived power of the preceding word than when it was incongruent. In Experiment 2 ERPs showed a higher N1 amplitude for congruent spatial positions. These results support the view that attention is driven to the image schema congruent location of a power word. Thus, power is partially understood in terms of vertical space, which demonstrates that abstract concepts are grounded in sensory-motor processing.     

视听刺激突显性对视觉主导效应的影响

本研究使用空间任务-转换范式,控制视、听刺激的突显性,探讨自下而上注意对视觉主导效应的影响。结果表明视、听刺激突显性显著地影响视觉主导效应,实验一中当听觉刺激为高突显性时,视觉主导效应显著减弱。实验二中当听觉刺激为高突显性并且视觉刺激为低突显性时,视觉主导效应进一步减弱但依然存在。结果支持偏向竞争理论,在跨通道视听交互过程中视觉刺激更具突显性,在多感觉整合过程中更具加工优势。     

Mixed emotions: holistic and analytic perception of facial expressions

In the face literature, it is debated whether the identification of facial expressions requires holistic (i.e., whole face) or analytic (i.e., parts-based) information. In this study, happy and angry composite expressions were created in which the top and bottom face halves formed either an incongruent (e.g., angry top + happy bottom) or congruent composite expression (e.g., happy top + happy bottom). Participants reported the expression in the target top or bottom half of the face. In Experiment 1, the target half in the incongruent condition was identified less accurately and more slowly relative to the baseline isolated expression or neutral face conditions. In contrast, no differences were found between congruent and the baseline conditions. In Experiment 2, the effects of exposure duration were tested by presenting faces for 20, 60, 100 and 120 ms. Interference effects for the incongruent faces appeared at the earliest 20 ms interval and persisted for the 60, 100 and 120 ms intervals. In contrast, no differences were found between the congruent and baseline face conditions at any exposure interval. In Experiment 3, it was found that spatial alignment impaired the recognition of incongruent expressions, but had no effect on congruent expressions. These results are discussed in terms of holistic and analytic processing of facial expressions.     

Mixed emotions: Holistic and analytic perception of facial expressions

In the face literature, it is debated whether the identification of facial expressions requires holistic (i.e., whole face) or analytic (i.e., parts-based) information. In this study, happy and angry composite expressions were created in which the top and bottom face halves formed either an incongruent (e.g., angry top + happy bottom) or congruent composite expression (e.g., happy top + happy bottom). Participants reported the expression in the target top or bottom half of the face. In Experiment 1, the target half in the incongruent condition was identified less accurately and more slowly relative to the baseline isolated expression or neutral face conditions. In contrast, no differences were found between congruent and the baseline conditions. In Experiment 2, the effects of exposure duration were tested by presenting faces for 20, 60, 100 and 120 ms. Interference effects for the incongruent faces appeared at the earliest 20 ms interval and persisted for the 60, 100 and 120 ms intervals. In contrast, no differences were found between the congruent and baseline face conditions at any exposure interval. In Experiment 3, it was found that spatial alignment impaired the recognition of incongruent expressions, but had no effect on congruent expressions. These results are discussed in terms of holistic and analytic processing of facial expressions.     

Mental rotation of compound stimuli: The effects of task demands,practice, and figural goodness

Four experiments examined whether or not mental rotation of compound stimuli is a holistic process. Large letters (global aspect) composed of small letters (local aspect) were presented, and the format (normal vs. reflected) of each aspect was manipulated independently. In Experiment 1, the rate of mental rotation was compared under divided- and focused-attention instructions. The overall rate of mental rotation was faster under focused-attention instructions than under divided-attention instructions. Also, contrary to previous findings, in the divided-attention task, the slope of the rotation function was smaller when the stimulus configurations contained aspects with congruent formats (both aspects were normal or mirror-reversed letters) than when they contained aspects with incongruent formats (one normal and one mirror-reversed letter). This pattern of results is unlikely to be caused by the subjects' level of familiarity with the divided-attention task (Experiment 2), by postrotation processes (Experiment 3), or by stimulus attributes (figural goodness) confounded with the format-congruency variable (Experiment 4). The implications of these results for models of mental rotation of compound stimuli are discussed.     

The influence of head contour and nose angle on the perception of eye-gaze direction

We report seven experiments that investigate the influence that head orientation exerts on the perception of eye-gaze direction. In each of these experiments, participants were asked to decide whether the eyes in a brief and masked presentation were looking directly at them or were averted. In each case, the eyes could be presented alone, or in the context of congruent or incongruent stimuli In Experiment 1A, the congruent and incongruent stimuli were provided by the orientation of face features and head outline. Discrimination of gaze direction was found to be better when face and gaze were congruent than in both of the other conditions, an effect that was not eliminated by inversion of the stimuli (Experiment 1B). In Experiment 2A, the internal face features were removed, but the outline of the head profile was found to produce an identical pattern of effects on gaze discrimination, effects that were again insensitive to inversion (Experiment 2B) and which persisted when lateral displacement of the eyes was controlled (Experiment 2C). Finally, in Experiment 3A, nose angle was also found to influence participants' ability to discriminate direct gaze from averted gaze, but here the effect was eliminated by inversion of the stimuli (Experiment 3B). We concluded that an image-based mechanism is responsible for the influence of head profile on gaze perception, whereas the analysis of nose angle involves the configural processing of face features.     

Depth of facial expression processing depends on stimulus visibility: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence of priming effects

Participants performed a priming task during which emotional faces served as prime stimuli and emotional words served as targets. Prime-target pairs were congruent or incongruent, and two levels of prime visibility were obtained by varying the duration of the masked primes. To probe a neural signature of the impact of the masked primes, lateralized readiness potentials (LRPs) were recorded over motor cortex. In the high-visibility condition, responses to word targets were faster when the prime-target pairs were congruent than when they were incongruent, providing evidence of priming effects. In line with the behavioral results, the electrophysiological data showed that high-visibility face primes resulted in LRP differences between congruent and incongruent trials, suggesting that prime stimuli initiated motor preparation. Contrary to the above pattern, no evidence for reaction time or LRP differences was observed in the low-visibility condition, revealing that the depth of facial expression processing is dependent on stimulus visibility.     

The two sides of the mental clock: the Imaginal HemiSpatial Effect in the healthy brain

When subjects are asked to compare the mental images of two analog clocks telling different times (the mental clock test), they are faster to process angles formed by hands located in the right than in the left half of the dial. In the present paper, we demonstrate that this Imaginal HemiSpatial Effect (IHSE) can be also observed in two modified versions of the mental clock test: in Experiment 1 subjects had to imagine the position occupied by two numbers within a clock face and to judge if the subtended angle was smaller or greater than 90 degrees , while in Experiment 2 subjects were asked to match two imagined positions on a clock face with two visually presented locations. The finding of the IHSE in these tasks suggested that it is a genuine phenomenon related to spatial imagery tasks, and is consistent with recent neuroimaging evidence that the left parietal lobe is mainly involved in the generation of spatial mental images.     

Visual search for object orientation can be modulated by canonical orientation

The authors studied the influence of canonical orientation on visual search for object orientation. Displays consisted of pictures of animals whose axis of elongation was either vertical or tilted in their canonical orientation. Target orientation could be either congruent or incongruent with the object's canonical orientation. In Experiment 1, vertical canonical targets were detected faster when they were tilted (incongruent) than when they were vertical (congruent). This search asymmetry was reversed for tilted canonical targets. The effect of canonical orientation was partially preserved when objects were high-pass filtered, but it was eliminated when they were low-pass filtered, rendering them as unfamiliar shapes (Experiment 2). The effect of canonical orientation was also eliminated by inverting the objects (Experiment 3) and in a patient with visual agnosia (Experiment 4). These results indicate that orientation search with familiar objects can be modulated by canonical orientation, and they indicate a top-down influence on orientation processing.     

Neural correlates of partial transmission of sensorimotor information in the cerebral cortex

Using single neuron recordings in monkey primary motor (MI) cortex, two series of experiments were conducted in order to know whether response preparation can begin before perceptual processing finishes, thus providing evidence for a temporal overlap of perceptual and motor processes.

In Experiment 1, a “left/right, Go/No-Go” reaction time (RT) task was used. One monkey was trained to perform wrist flexion/extension movements to align a pointer with visual targets. The visual display was organized to provide a two-dimensional stimulus: side (an easy discrimination between left and right targets) which determined movement direction, and distance (a difficult discrimination between distal and proximal targets) which determined whether or not the movement was to be made. Changes in neuronal activity, when they were time-locked to the stimulus, were almost similar in the Go and No-Go trials, and when they were time-locked to movement onset, were markedly reduced in No-Go as compared to Go trials.

In Experiment 2, a stimulus-response compatibility (SRC) task was used. Two monkeys were trained to align a pointer with visual targets, on either left or right. In the spatially “compatible” trials, they had to point at the stimulus position, whereas in the “incompatible” trials, they had to point at the target located in the opposite side. For 12.5% of neurons, changes in activity associated with incompatible trials looked like changes in activity associated with movements performed in the opposite direction during compatible trials, thus suggesting the hypothesis of an automatic activation of the congruent, but incorrect response.

Results of both experiments provide evidence for a partial transmission of information from visual to motor cortical areas: that is, in the No-Go trials of the first task, information about movement direction, before the decision to perform or not this movement was made, and, in the incompatible trials of the SRC task, information about the congruent, but incorrect response, before the incongruent, but correct response was programmed.