Expectancy effects in the EEG during joint and spontaneous word-by-word sentence production in German
Goregliad Fjaellingsdal,Tatiana Schwenke,Diana Scherbaum,Stefan Kuhlen,Anna K. Bögels,Sara Meekes,Joost Bleichner,Martin G.
Goregliad Fjaellingsdal,Tatiana
Schwenke,Diana
Scherbaum,Stefan
Kuhlen,Anna K.
Bögels,Sara
Meekes,Joost
Bleichner,Martin G.
Abstract
Our aim in the present study is to measure neural correlates during spontaneous interactive sentence production. We present a novel approach using the word-by-word technique from improvisational theatre, in which two speakers jointly produce one sentence. This paradigm allows the assessment of behavioural aspects, such as turn-times, and electrophysiological responses, such as event-related-potentials (ERPs). Twenty-five participants constructed a cued but spontaneous four-word German sentence together with a confederate, taking turns for each word of the sentence. In 30% of the trials, the confederate uttered an unexpected gender-marked article. To complete the sentence in a meaningful way, the participant had to detect the violation and retrieve and utter a new fitting response. We found significant increases in response times after unexpected words and – despite allowing unscripted language production and naturally varying speech material – successfully detected significant N400 and P600 ERP effects for the unexpected word. The N400 EEG activity further significantly predicted the response time of the subsequent turn. Our results show that combining behavioural and neuroscientific measures of verbal interactions while retaining sufficient experimental control is possible, and that this combination provides promising insights into the mechanisms of spontaneous spoken dialogue.
Description
Funding Information: We thank Marike Maack for her help during data collection. We would also like to thank Reiner Emkes and Florian Wiese for technical support. We are grateful to Prof. Stefan Debener for his support, feedback, and provision of lab facilities. This research was funded by the Volkswagen Foundation (European Platform) and the Task Group 7 “BCI for Hearing Aids”, DFG Cluster of Excellence 1077 Hearing4all, Oldenburg, Germany. Publisher Copyright: © 2020, The Author(s).
Date
2020-12-01
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Keywords
Electroencephalography, Evoked Potentials, Verbal Behavior, Speech Perception, Clinical Article
Citation
Goregliad Fjaellingsdal, T, Schwenke, D, Scherbaum, S, Kuhlen, A K, Bögels, S, Meekes, J & Bleichner, M G 2020, 'Expectancy effects in the EEG during joint and spontaneous word-by-word sentence production in German', Scientific Reports, vol. 10, no. 1, 5460, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-62155-z