Sensory load and word recognition

Abstract

The hallmark of the Perceptual Symbol Systems model is the hypothesized perceptual simulation that is at the core of conceptual representation. The simulation can be boosted if the attention is directed towards a given modality, or prevented if the input information occupies attentional resources within the given modality. Here, we make use of this effect to demonstrate that perceptual simulation occurs not only when explicitly addressing particular sensory feature (as previously demonstrated), but also in word recognition. We hypothesized that working memory load in the given modality would cancelout the simulation boosting effect that occurs when the presentation modality and the modality of perceptual experience with objects denoted by the given word are the same. Indeed, our results revealed that the simulation boosting effect that had been observed in the control condition was cancelled out under cognitive load condition by the selective interference. In the light of Perceptual Symbol Systems, this is interpreted as a consequence of the preventing of perceptual simulation, thus pointing to the role of perceptual simulation in the process of word recognition.