Department of Philosophy and Communication, University of Bologna, Via Azzo Gardino 23, 40122, Bologna, Italy.
Department of Medicine and Surgery - Unit of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Via Volturno 39, 43125, Parma, Italy.
Mem Cognit. 2024 Feb;52(2):285-301. doi: 10.3758/s13421-023-01460-0. Epub 2023 Sep 6.
Existing evidence has shown that adjectives modulate the grasp-compatibility effect elicited by object nouns. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of syntax on the sensorimotor activation elicited by nouns in a grasp-compatibility task. We assessed two languages with different syntactic rules, Italian in Experiment 1 and English in Experiment 2. In both experiments, an adjective-noun pair was shown on the screen. The adjective was always in a pre-nominal position and denoted either a disadvantageous quality of the object graspability (e.g., sharp) or the object colour (e.g., reddish). Participants had to categorize the object nouns as natural or artifact, performing a precision or a power reach-to-grasp movement. On different trials, the grasp response was compatible or incompatible with the grip typically used to manipulate the object indicated by the noun. In Experiment 1 (Italian language) the adjective-noun order violated the syntactic order and no difference emerged between reaction times on compatible and incompatible trials (no grasp compatibility effect). In Experiment 2 (English language), the adjective-noun order followed the syntactic rule. Results showed a grasp-compatibility effect when a colour adjective was presented before a natural object noun. When a disadvantageous adjective preceded an artifact or a natural object noun, an inverted grasp-compatibility effect emerged with slower responses on compatible than incompatible trials. Taken together, these findings suggest that adjectives can shape the sensorimotor activation elicited by nouns of graspable objects only when the syntax is correct. Results are discussed with respect to embodied cognition theories.
现有证据表明，形容词可以调节名词引起的抓握兼容性效应。本研究旨在探讨语法在抓握兼容性任务中名词引起的感觉运动激活中的作用。我们评估了两种具有不同语法规则的语言，实验 1 中的意大利语和实验 2 中的英语。在这两个实验中，屏幕上会显示一个形容词-名词对。形容词总是位于名词之前，并且表示对象可操作性的不利质量（例如，锋利）或对象颜色（例如，微红）。参与者必须将名词归类为自然或人工制品，执行精确或力量伸手抓握动作。在不同的试验中，抓握反应与通常用于操纵名词指示的对象的抓握相兼容或不兼容。在实验 1（意大利语）中，形容词-名词的顺序违反了语法顺序，在兼容和不兼容的试验中，反应时间没有差异（没有抓握兼容性效应）。在实验 2（英语）中，形容词-名词的顺序遵循语法规则。当呈现颜色形容词在前，自然物体名词在后时，结果显示出抓握兼容性效应。当不利形容词在前，人工制品或自然物体名词在后时，在兼容试验中反应比不兼容试验慢，出现了反转的抓握兼容性效应。总的来说，这些发现表明，只有在语法正确的情况下，形容词才能塑造对可抓握物体名词引起的感觉运动激活。结果与具身认知理论有关。
