Abstract
The power–space associations have been extensively studied as a possible way to reveal the nature of concept representations, while the visuospatial and verbal–spatial codes are two primary explanations for the phenomenon. In two experiments, we imposed either a visuospatial or a verbal secondary task during the semantic categorizing of power words to examine their respective roles. The results showed that retaining a letter but not a location concurrently interfered with the power–space association. The results suggested that the verbal–spatial codes might play a more fundamental role than the visuospatial codes in the power–space associations during the semantic categorizing of power words.
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Data Availability Statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy restrictions.
Change history
23 August 2023
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-023-01157-x
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by National Key R&D Program of China (2022ZD0116403), the research fund of the School of Social Development and Public Policy at Fudan University and the Humanities and Social Sciences Youth Integration Innovation Team of Fudan University.
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Appendix
Appendix
Words represent human used in the experiments.
Word | In English | Valence rating | Power rating | Word frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
霸主 | Overlord | 4.75 | 6.75 | 1 |
君主 | Sovereign | 5.42 | 6.33 | 12 |
首领 | Leader | 4.92 | 5.50 | 8 |
校长 | Principal | 4.33 | 4.17 | 52 |
主人 | Host | 3.50 | 4.25 | 83 |
主任 | Director | 3.25 | 3.33 | 177 |
总理 | Prime Minister | 4.75 | 5.42 | 222 |
总统 | President | 4.92 | 6.17 | 21 |
官员 | Officer | 2.92 | 4.50 | 8 |
国王 | King | 4.50 | 5.83 | 52 |
将军 | General | 5.17 | 5.42 | 91 |
教练 | Coach | 4.08 | 3.17 | 34 |
经理 | Manager | 3.92 | 3.75 | 131 |
老板 | Boss | 3.67 | 4.58 | 117 |
统治者 | Governor | 3.42 | 6.50 | 1 |
政治家 | Politician | 2.83 | 4.33 | 1 |
Word | In English | Valence rating | Power rating | Word frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
孩子 | Child | 5.92 | 1.92 | 1026 |
农夫 | Plowman | 4.58 | 3.33 | 9 |
农民 | Farmer | 4.33 | 3.33 | 290 |
仆人 | Servant | 3.25 | 2.08 | 6 |
实习生 | Intern | 4.08 | 2.50 | 1 |
士兵 | Soldier | 4.50 | 4.08 | 45 |
水手 | Sailor | 5.00 | 3.83 | 16 |
学生 | Student | 5.00 | 3.00 | 424 |
保姆 | Nurserymaid | 3.67 | 2.58 | 3 |
病人 | Sick person | 2.83 | 1.75 | 81 |
孤儿 | Orphan | 3.25 | 1.67 | 6 |
奴隶 | Slave | 2.17 | 1.75 | 73 |
随从 | Attendant | 3.08 | 2.42 | 3 |
学徒 | Apprentice | 3.67 | 2.58 | 17 |
丫头 | Female Servant | 4.83 | 2.00 | 56 |
婴儿 | Baby | 6.17 | 1.58 | 35 |
Words represent animals used in the experiments.
Word | In English | Valence rating | Power rating | Word frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
狮子 | Lion | 5.33 | 6.42 | 21 |
非洲狮 | Africa lion | 5.08 | 6.50 | 1 |
猎豹 | Cheetah | 5.08 | 5.67 | 1 |
老虎 | Tiger | 4.92 | 6.25 | 74 |
东北虎 | Northeast Tiger | 5.08 | 6.42 | 1 |
黑熊 | Black bear | 3.83 | 5.92 | 1 |
野熊 | Wild bear | 3.92 | 6.08 | 1 |
大象 | Elephant | 5.83 | 5.67 | 9 |
藏獒 | Tibetan Mastiff | 3.92 | 5.50 | 1 |
蟒蛇 | Boa | 2.50 | 5.33 | 1 |
巨蟒 | Python | 2.42 | 5.83 | 1 |
大白鲨 | Great white shark | 4.17 | 5.83 | 1 |
鲨鱼 | Shark | 4.00 | 5.42 | 1 |
巨鲸 | Gigantic whale | 5.50 | 5.08 | 1 |
蓝鲸 | Blue whale | 5.67 | 4.75 | 7 |
鳄鱼 | Crocodile | 3.67 | 5.83 | 14 |
Word | In English | Valence rating | Power rating | Word frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
小鸡 | Chick | 4.75 | 1.25 | 1 |
鸭子 | Duck | 4.50 | 1.50 | 20 |
兔子 | Rabbit | 5.58 | 1.42 | 13 |
小猫 | Kitten | 5.58 | 1.58 | 1 |
吉娃娃 | Chihuahua | 4.83 | 1.42 | 1 |
金鱼 | Goldfish | 4.75 | 1.08 | 30 |
蜗牛 | Snail | 4.00 | 1.00 | 11 |
蝌蚪 | Tadpole | 4.00 | 1.00 | 1 |
松鼠 | Squirrel | 5.92 | 1.58 | 17 |
小白鼠 | Mice | 4.75 | 1.17 | 1 |
蜻蜓 | Dragonfly | 4.08 | 1.08 | 21 |
蝴蝶 | Butterfly | 4.50 | 1.08 | 35 |
蚂蚁 | Ant | 3.50 | 1.33 | 40 |
毛毛虫 | Caterpillar | 1.58 | 1.33 | 1 |
蚯蚓 | Earthworm | 2.50 | 1.25 | 16 |
麻雀 | Sparrow | 3.83 | 1.50 | 19 |
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Sai, X., Wu, X., Li, X. et al. Visuospatial or verbal–spatial codes? The different effect of two secondary tasks on the power–space associations during a semantic categorizing task. Cogn Process 24, 481–493 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-023-01149-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-023-01149-x