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Abstract:
We investigated the time course and possible interactions of
semantic and syntactic processes in auditory language
comprehension. Sentences were presented that were either (a)
correct, (b) semantically incorrect, (c) syntactically incorrect
(phrase structure violation) or both (d). In the first experiment
participants judged the correctness the sentences. Results for
conditions (b) and (c) replicated earlier studies showing a N400
for (b) and an early left anterior negativity (ELAN) followed by a
P600 for (c). For condition (d) we observed the same result pattern
as for condition (c). In Experiment II participants listened to the
same sentences but judged them for "semantic coherence" only, i.e.
ignoring syntactic violations. Again, a ELAN was elicited for both
sentence types containing phrase structure errors (c and d).
However, condition (d) now also elicited a N400. Interestingly,
there was no P600 for condition (c) any more. The results suggest
that first-pass parsing processes are independent of semantic
aspects and that both N400 and P600 reflect rather controlled
processes.
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