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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/191645
The electrophysiological correlates of word pre-activation during associative word learning
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Human beings continuously make use of learned associations to generate predictions about future occurrences in the environment. Such memory-related predictive processes provide a scaffold for learning in that mental rep-resentations of foreseeable events can be adjusted or strengthened based on a specific outcome. Learning the meaning of novel words through picture-word associations constitutes a prime example of associative learning because pictures preceding words can trigger word prediction through the pre-activation of the related mne-monic representations. In the present electroencephalography (EEG) study, we used event-related potentials (ERPs) to compare neural indices of word pre-activation between a word learning condition with maximal prediction likelihood and a non-learning control condition with low prediction. Results revealed that prediction -related N400 amplitudes in response to pictures decreased over time at central electrodes as a function of word learning, whereas late positive component (LPC) amplitudes increased. Notably, N400 but not LPC changes were also predictive of word learning performance, suggesting that the N400 component constitutes a sensitive marker of word pre-activation during associative word learning.
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ELMER, Stefan, BESSON, Mireille and RODRÍGUEZ FORNELLS, Antoni. The electrophysiological correlates of word pre-activation during associative word learning. International Journal of Psychophysiology. 2022. Vol. 182, num. 12-22. ISSN 1872-7697. [consulted: 17 of August of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/191645