TY - JOUR

T1 - Lexical Context Affects Mismatch Negativity Caused by Pseudowords

AU - Александров, Александр Алексеевич

AU - Меметова, Кристина Серверовна

AU - Станкевич, Людмила Николаевна

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lexical context on the latency and the amplitude of the mismatch negativity (MMN) brain potential caused by perception of pseudowords. The eventrelated potentials were recorded according to the multideviant passive odd-ball paradigm by using onlypseudowords (control condition) or pseudowords with Russian words with different lexical frequencies (lexical context). It was found that different MMN patterns were generated when the same pseudoword was presentedin different contexts. Pseudoword presentation in a context with other pseudowords resulted in a relatively small amplitude and large latency of MMN. If the same pseudoword was presented in a context with words, it induced significantly increased amplitude and reduced latency of MMN varying in the range of 100–200 ms. It is supposed that the pseudoword presented in a context with words is perceived as conceptually different stimulus, which leads to a significant increase in MMN. Moreover, our findings support thehypothesis that MMN is affected by lexical frequency. In particular, presentation of a high-frequency word induced a significantly more pronounced MMN response than a low-frequency one. High-frequency words also evoked earlier response, which indicates more rapid access to a frequently used lexical entry. More frequent use of certain words results in stronger internal connections in the corresponding memory circuit, which in turn is determined by the lexical context. We hypothesize that different intensities of activation depends on the strength of lexical representation.

AB - The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lexical context on the latency and the amplitude of the mismatch negativity (MMN) brain potential caused by perception of pseudowords. The eventrelated potentials were recorded according to the multideviant passive odd-ball paradigm by using onlypseudowords (control condition) or pseudowords with Russian words with different lexical frequencies (lexical context). It was found that different MMN patterns were generated when the same pseudoword was presentedin different contexts. Pseudoword presentation in a context with other pseudowords resulted in a relatively small amplitude and large latency of MMN. If the same pseudoword was presented in a context with words, it induced significantly increased amplitude and reduced latency of MMN varying in the range of 100–200 ms. It is supposed that the pseudoword presented in a context with words is perceived as conceptually different stimulus, which leads to a significant increase in MMN. Moreover, our findings support thehypothesis that MMN is affected by lexical frequency. In particular, presentation of a high-frequency word induced a significantly more pronounced MMN response than a low-frequency one. High-frequency words also evoked earlier response, which indicates more rapid access to a frequently used lexical entry. More frequent use of certain words results in stronger internal connections in the corresponding memory circuit, which in turn is determined by the lexical context. We hypothesize that different intensities of activation depends on the strength of lexical representation.

KW - event-related potentials (ERP), pseudowords, word frequency, mismatch negativity (MMN), words, language, attention

KW - event-related potentials (ERP), pseudowords, word frequency, mismatch negativity (MMN), words, language, attention

U2 - DOI: 10.1134/S036211971704003X

DO - DOI: 10.1134/S036211971704003X

M3 - Article

VL - 43

SP - 395

EP - 403

JO - Human Physiology

JF - Human Physiology

SN - 0362-1197

IS - 4

ER -