Coming of age: a review of embodiment and the neuroscience of semantics

Meteyard, L., Rodriguez Cuadrado, S., Bahrami, B. and Vigliocco, G. (2012) Coming of age: a review of embodiment and the neuroscience of semantics. Cortex, 48 (7). pp. 788-804. ISSN 0010-9452 doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2010.11.002

Abstract/Summary

Over the last decade, there has been an increasing body of work that explores whether sensory and motor information is a necessary part of semantic representation and processing. This is the embodiment hypothesis. This paper presents a theoretical review of this work that is intended to be useful for researchers in the neurosciences and neuropsychology. Beginning with a historical perspective, relevant theories are placed on a continuum from strongly embodied to completely unembodied representations. Predictions are derived and neuroscientific and neuropsychological evidence that could support different theories is reviewed; finally, criticisms of embodiment are discussed. We conclude that strongly embodied and completely disembodied theories are not supported, and that the remaining theories agree that semantic representation involves some form of Convergence Zones (Damasio, 1989) and the activation of modal content. For the future, research must carefully define the boundaries of semantic processing and tackle the representation of abstract entities.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/17118
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.cortex.2010.11.002
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Department of Clinical Language Sciences Interdisciplinary Research Centres (IDRCs) > Centre for Cognition Research (CCR)
Uncontrolled Keywords	Semantic; Concepts; Categories; Multiple semantics; Embodiment;Representation; Grounding; Simulation; Sensory–motor
Publisher	Elsevier
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