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Who did what ? A causal role for cognitive control in thematic role assignment during sentence comprehension by Thothathiri, Malathi; Asaro, Christine T.; Hsu, Nina S.; Novick, Jared M. is a Psychology article available to read on EtoBox.

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Thematic role assignment - generally, figuring out who did what to whom - is a critical component of sentence comprehension, which is influenced by both syntactic and semantic cues. Conflict between these cues can result in temporary consideration of multiple incompatible interpretations during real-time sentence processing. We tested whether the resolution of syntax-semantics conflict can be expedited by the online engagement of cognitive control processes that are routinely used to regulate behavior across domains. In this study, cognitive control deployment from a previous Stroop trial influenced eye movements during subsequent sentence comprehension. Specifically, when syntactic and semantic cues competed for influence on interpretation, dynamic cognitive control engagement led to (a) fewer overall looks to a picture illustrating the competing but incorrect interpretation (Experiment 1), or (b) steeper growth in looks to a picture illustrating the correct interpretation (Experiment 2). Thus, prior cognitive control engagement facilitated the resolution of syntax-semantics conflict by biasing processing towards the intended analysis. This conflict adaptation effect demonstrates

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Author

Thothathiri, Malathi; Asaro, Christine T.; Hsu, Nina S.; Novick, Jared M.

Publisher

Elsevier Science; Elsevier ; Elsevier BV (ISSN 0010-0277)

Published

2018

Language

EN

Field

Psychology (Social Sciences)