Daniel Bub (University of Victoria)

Presenter: Daniel Bub (University of Victoria)

Title: In Search of Embodied Representations

Abstract:

I will discuss the interplay of different types of cognitive representations in language processing, specifically in the context of Action-Sentence Compatibility Effects (ACEs).  Rather than interpreting null effects as evidence for abstract rather than embodied representations, I will make specific, testable predictions regarding how different representations may be recruited depending on task demands and contextual cues. Through a series of experiments, I will examine how various factors, such as explicit attention to spatial properties and the degree of overlap with real motor experiences, influence the activation of action-related representations. The findings reveal that the same linguistic material can evoke different types of representations, depending on the task design. Either abstract or motor-related compatibility effects can emerge under different conditions, with the dominance of either effect shaped by contextual cues and the task context. This research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how different types of representations are activated in language processing, providing insights into the conditions under which specific representations are likely to predominate.

The talk will be in person in the Psychology Reading room, COR A228, from 3:00 – 4:30.