Context-dependent Semantic Processing in the Human Brain: Evidence from Idiom Comprehension

Abstract

Abstract■ Language comprehension involves activating word meanings and integrating them with the sentence context. This study examined whether these routines are carried out even when they are theoretically unnecessary, namely, in the case of opaque idiomatic expressions, for which the literal word meanings are unrelated to the overall meaning of the expression. Predictable words in sentences were replaced by a semantically related or unrelated word. In literal sentences, this yielded previously established behavioral and electrophysiological signatures of semantic processing: semantic facilitation in lexical decision, a reduced N400 for semantically related relative to unrelated words, and a power increase in the gamma frequency band that was disrupted by semantic violations. However, the same manipulations in idioms yielded none of these effects. Instead, semantic violations elicited a late positivity in idioms. Moreover, gamma band power was lower in correct idioms than in correct literal sentences. It is argued that the brainʼs semantic expectancy and literal word meaning integration operations can, to some extent, be "switched off" when the context renders them unnecessary. Furthermore, the results lend support to models of idiom comprehension that involve unitary idiom representations. ■

Basic composition and enriched integration in idiom processing: An EEG study.

“…Consistent with Rommers et al (2013), this may also lead to changes in the middle gamma frequency band, with a power decrease in the Idiomatic compared to the Literal condition. If idioms behave as metaphors or irony (De Grauwe et al, 2010;Regel et al, 2011), we might find LPC or P600 effects in Parietal electrodes that would reflect the cognitive demands associated with the integration of the figurative meaning.…”

“…Recently Rommers, Bastiaansen and Dijkstra (2013) investigated the N400 in the processing of idioms (e.g., tegen de lamp, lit. to walk against the lamp, meaning to get caught) with a more elaborate paradigm than prior EEG studies.…”

“…In fact, the use of literally-plausible, rather than literally-implausible idioms as in Rommers et al (2013), may allow us to assess processing differences solely due to idiomaticity and limit the effect of differences in frequency of co-occurrence of words, or familiarity.…”

“…The idiom meaning is then retrieved from semantic memory and integrated in the sentential context through an enriched meaning integration where additional cognitive efforts are expected to select the idiomatic meaning and adjust it to the global sentence meaning to obtain a coherent discourse interpretation. The semantic composition of the literal meaning of the words following idiom recognition is often unnecessary (Rommers et al, 2013) if not disruptive, since it would lead to a contextually inappropriate literal interpretation (for related behavioural evidence, Cacciari & Corradini, 2015;Holsinger, 2013).…”

Found in Translation

“…Drieghe,!&!Liversedge,!2014;! Rommers!et!al.,!2013)!does!show!effects!that! seem!to!demonstrate!a!more!unitary!nature!for!certain!types!of!unit,!many!…”