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Observing functional actions affects semantic processing of tools: evidence of a motor-to-semantic priming

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Abstract

Recent evidence shows that activation of motor information can favor identification of related tools, thus suggesting a strict link between motor and conceptual knowledge in cognitive representation of tools. However, the involvement of motor information in further semantic processing has not been elucidated. In three experiments, we aimed to ascertain whether motor information provided by observation of actions could affect processing of conceptual knowledge about tools. In Experiment 1, healthy participants judged whether pairs of tools evoking different functional handgrips had the same function. In Experiment 2 participants judged whether tools were paired with appropriate recipients. Finally, in Experiment 3 we again required functional judgments as in Experiment 1, but also included in the set of stimuli pairs of objects having different function and similar functional handgrips. In all experiments, pictures displaying either functional grasping (aimed to use tools) or structural grasping (just aimed to move tools independently from their use) were presented before each stimulus pair. The results demonstrated that, in comparison with structural grasping, observing functional grasping facilitates judgments about tools’ function when objects did not imply the same functional manipulation (Experiment 1), whereas worsened such judgments when objects shared functional grasp (Experiment 3). Instead, action observation did not affect judgments concerning tool–recipient associations (Experiment 2). Our findings support a task-dependent influence of motor information on high-order conceptual tasks and provide further insights into how motor and conceptual processing about tools can interact.

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Correspondence to Luigi Trojano.

Appendix

Appendix

Lists of objects included in experimental stimuli

Target objects—all experiments

Function judgment—Experiment 1

Recipient judgment—Experiment 2

Function judgment—Experiment 3

Matched objects

Unmatched objects

Matched items

Unmatched items

Unmatched objects

Gas lighter

Lighter

Screwdriver

Gas cooker

Faucet

Hunting rifle

Coffee pot

Coffee maker

Hairbrush

Coffee cup

Piece of cake

Watering can

Basic corkscrew

Wing corkscrew

Pincers

Cork

Nail

T spanner

White out

Shake ‘n squeeze

Spray

Copybook

Blackboard

Soap bubble maker

Paper scissors

Cutter

Bottle opener

Poster boards

Marble sheets

Serving scissor tongs

Hand electric mixer

Stand electric mixer

Vacuum cleaner

Cream casserole dish

Spaghetti dish

Electric iron

Pincer tea infuser

Tea bag

Pipe

Tea cup

Straw bale

Reverse tongs

Squeegee

Glass cleaning cloth

Shaving brush

Glass window

Wardrobe

Paint roller

Hand lens

Field glasses

Stapler

Written sheet

Traffic sign

Hairbrush

Hair butterfly clamp

Hair clip

Fork

Long-haired woman’s head

Fingers

Clothes pin

Electric razor

Straight razor

PC mouse

Bearded chin

Feet

Torch

Liquid soap dispenser

Bar soap

Electric iron

Hands

Tongue

Perfume spray

Junior hacksaw

Toolbox saw

Ladle

Pieces of wood

Piece of bread

Slicer knife

Hairbrush

Comb

Ballpoint pen

Woman’s hair

Woman’s eye

Wall paintbrush

Spray bottle

Toilet cleaner bottle

Hammer

Bathroom sink

Bed

Soldering gun

Nail clipping

Nail scissors

Key house

Finger nails

Long-haired woman’s head

Junior stapler

Coffee cup

Small glass

Cake spatula

Lips

Ear

Funnel

Hand stamp

Rubber stamp

Syringe

Ink pad

Ointment tube

Meat pounder

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De Bellis, F., Ferrara, A., Errico, D. et al. Observing functional actions affects semantic processing of tools: evidence of a motor-to-semantic priming. Exp Brain Res 234, 1–11 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-015-4432-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-015-4432-4

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