Perceptual simulation during sentence production using word sets

Abstract

Perceptual symbol systems theory has discussed the intimate relationship between language and perception. Many studies have shown that perceptual simulation occurs during sentence comprehension. However, previous studies in sentence production, in which participants were asked to produce a sentence based on pictures, had not addressed the question of whether perceptual simulation plays a role during sentence production. In this study, we investigated whether perceptual simulation occurs during sentence production using word sets. Participants were first presented three words (e.g., egg/refrigerator/skillet) and asked to produce a sentence from two of the assigned words (e.g., egg/refrigerator or egg/skillet). Then they were presented with a picture of the object (e.g., a whole egg still in its shell, or a cracked egg) and asked to judge whether the pictured object was in the sentence production phase. Results revealed that responses in the picture judgement task were faster when the image in the sentences the participants produced matched that of the pictured object. This result suggests that perceptual simulation plays an important role in sentence production.