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 editorsHernández, Doris; Puupponen, Anna; Keränen, Jarkko; Ortega, Gerardo; Jantunen, Tommi

Journal or seriesBrain and Language

ISSN0093-934X

eISSN1090-2155

Publication year2024

Volume252

Article number105413

PublisherElsevier

Publication countryUnited States

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2024.105413

Publication open accessOpenly available

Publication channel open accessPartially 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.


Keywordssign languagedeafinteractionbilingualismEEG

Free keywordssign language; constructed action; plain telling; bimodal bilingualism; meaning processing; bottom-up processing; EEG; ERP


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Related projects


Ministry reportingYes

VIRTA submission year2024

Preliminary JUFO rating2


Last updated on 2024-03-07 at 01:25