Micro-affordances during lexical processing: considerations on the nature of object-knowledge representations
Abstract
Micro-affordance effects have been reported for several different components of
the reach-to-grasp action during both on-line and off-line visual processing. The
presence of such effects represents a strong demonstration of the close
relationship between perception, action, and cognition. In this thesis 7
experiments are described, which investigate different aspects of that
relationship, with particular attention on the nature of object representations. In 5
behavioural experiments as well as in 1 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
(TMS) experiment a stimulus-response compatibility paradigm is employed to
examine the presence of micro-affordance effects arising during language
processing of object names. The power and precision component of the reach-to-grasp
action is investigated in relation to the compatibility of an object for
grasping with either a power or a precision grasp.
Overall, the results of the experiments discussed in the present thesis suggest that:
a) object representations activated during language processing of object names
are able to potentiate actions arising from the component of the reach-to-grasp
action under investigation; b) such representations might be more semantic or
„propositional‟ than depictive in nature, therefore more related to stored semantic
knowledge of the object and its associated actions than to its detailed visual
properties; c) this semantic information about objects seems to be automatically
translated into specific motor activity, even in the absence of any intention to act;
d) finally, such semantic, non-visual motor potentiation seems to be rapid and
relatively short lived.