A1 Journal article (refereed)
Between bodily action and conventionalized structure : The neural mechanisms of constructed action in sign language comprehension (2024)
Hernández, D., Puupponen, A., Keränen, J., Ortega, G., & Jantunen, T. (2024). Between bodily action and conventionalized structure : The neural mechanisms of constructed action in sign language comprehension. Brain and Language, 252, Article 105413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2024.105413
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Hernández, Doris; Puupponen, Anna; Keränen, Jarkko; Ortega, Gerardo; Jantunen, Tommi
Journal or series: Brain and Language
ISSN: 0093-934X
eISSN: 1090-2155
Publication year: 2024
Volume: 252
Article number: 105413
Publisher: Elsevier
Publication country: United States
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2024.105413
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/94337
Abstract
Sign languages (SLs) are expressed through different bodily actions, ranging from re-enactment of physical events (constructed action, CA) to sequences of lexical signs with internal structure (plain telling, PT). Despite the prevalence of CA in signed interactions and its significance for SL comprehension, its neural dynamics remain unexplored. We examined the processing of different types of CA (subtle, reduced, and overt) and PT in 35 adult deaf or hearing native signers. The electroencephalographic-based processing of signed sentences with incongruent targets was recorded. Attenuated N300 and early N400 were observed for CA in deaf but not in hearing signers. No differences were found between sentences with CA types in all signers, suggesting a continuum from PT to overt CA. Deaf signers focused more on body movements; hearing signers on faces. We conclude that CA is processed less effortlessly than PT, arguably because of its strong focus on bodily actions.
Keywords: sign language; deaf; interaction; bilingualism; EEG
Free keywords: sign language; constructed action; plain telling; bimodal bilingualism; meaning processing; bottom-up processing; EEG; ERP
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- Showing and telling in Finnish Sign Language
- Jantunen, Tommi
- Research Council of Finland
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2024
Preliminary JUFO rating: 2