The space of words: semantic integration of space-related words in noun sensorimotor processing

Evidence suggests that the processing of graspable object nouns elicits specific motor programs related to potential hand-object interactions. Notably, adjectives specifying manipulative features of these objects are integrated into this sensorimotor representation. In the present study, three experiments were conducted to explore the impact of spatial adjectives denoting the position of the object in space on the sensorimotor representation of graspable object nouns. We used a reach-to-grasp compatibility task, in which participants had to categorize object nouns as artifact or natural, by performing either a power or a precision reach-to-grasp movement matching or not the typical grip associated with the object. On each trial the object noun was presented with a second word specifying the location of the object in space (e.g. near vs. far). In addition, using the same task, we explore also the impact of a different class of words on the object sensorimotor representation that are spatial demonstratives (i.e., this and that) In all experiments, a reliable grasp compatibility effect emerged. The grasp-compatibility effect was modulated differentially by spatial adjectives and spatial demonstratives, revealing not only that both elements are integrated into the noun sensorimotor representation, but also that these different word categories lead to different spatial representations of the object during the semantic processing of object-related words combinations.