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Head up, foot down : object words orient attention to the objects' typical location

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Estes, Zachary, 1973-, Verges, Michelle and Barsalou, Lawrence W.. (2008) Head up, foot down : object words orient attention to the objects' typical location. Psychological Science, Vol.19 (No.2). pp. 93-97. ISSN 0956-7976

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02051.x

Abstract

Many objects typically occur in particular locations, and object words encode these spatial associations. We tested whether such object words (e.g., head, foot) orient attention toward the location where the denoted object typically occurs (i.e., up, down). Because object words elicit perceptual simulations of the denoted objects (i.e., the representations acquired during actual perception are reactivated), we predicted that an object word would interfere with identification of an unrelated visual target subsequently presented in the object's typical location. Consistent with this prediction, three experiments demonstrated that words denoting objects that typically occur high in the visual field hindered identification of targets appearing at the top of the display, whereas words denoting low objects hindered target identification at the bottom of the display. Thus, object words oriented attention to and activated perceptual simulations in the objects' typical locations. These results shed new light on how language affects perception.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Psychology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Imagery (Psychology), Perception -- Research, Spatial behavior
Journal or Publication Title:	Psychological Science
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
ISSN:	0956-7976
Date:	5 February 2008
Volume:	Vol.19
Number:	No.2
Page Range:	pp. 93-97
Identification Number:	10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02051.x
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/373