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Cited by 35Neurobiology of Language and BilingualismReading and Literacy DevelopmentSyntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation

Dividing attention influences contextual facilitation and revision during language comprehension

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Hubbard, Ryan J., Federmeier, Kara D.·2021·Brain Research
DOI 10.1016/j.brainres.2021.147466PMC PMC8491584
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Abstract

Although we often seem to successfully comprehend language in the face of distraction, few studies have examined the role of sustained attention in critical components of sentence processing, such as integrating information over a sentence and revising predictions when unexpected information is encountered. The current study investigated the impact of attention on sentence processing using a novel dual-task paradigm. Participants read weakly and strongly constraining sentences with expected or unexpected endings while also tracking the motion of dots in the background, and their EEG was recorded. Under full attention, the amplitude of the N400 component of the ERP, a measure of semantic access, was reduced (facilitated) in a graded fashion by contextual strength and fit. This context-based facilitation was attenuated when attention was divided, suggesting that sustained attention is important for building up message-level representations. In contrast, the post-N400 frontal positivity that has been observed to prediction violations and associated with revision processes was unaffected by dividing attention. However, under divided attention, participants also elicited posteriorly-distributed effects to these violations. Thus, predictive processes seem to be engaged even when attention is divided, but additional resources may then be required to process unexpected information.

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  • Speech comprehension requires attention, particularly for higher-level processes such as syntactic integration and reanalysis and drawing inferences.

    “Similarly, many studies have shown that speech comprehension requires attention. This holds in particular for higher-level processes, such as syntactic integration and reanalysis and drawing inferences”

    From Timing in Conversation (2023) · cites this paper as Hubbard & Federmeier, 2021

    The Introduction (Effects of Attention on Sentence Processing; page unavailable) says sustained attention may be particularly important for constructing sentence meaning, and the Discussion (page unavailable) reports that dividing attention impairs integrative mechanisms. The study used sentence reading, however, and these passages do not establish the claim’s specific examples of syntactic integration and reanalysis or drawing inferences during speech comprehension. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Hubbard, R. J., & Federmeier, K. D.
Affiliations
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
Corresponding author
Hubbard, Ryan J.
ORCID
Venue
Brain Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-08
Volume
1764
Pages
147466
ISSN
0006-8993 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.brainres.2021.147466
PMC
PMC8491584
OpenAlex
W3153813091
Cited by
35
References
115
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1
FWCI
2.50
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Brain Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG026308)
  • Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Reading and Literacy Development
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation
Keywords
divided attention, sentence processing, contextual facilitation, N400, semantic access, prediction violation, frontal positivity, dual-task paradigm, sustained attention, language comprehension
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Attention, Electroencephalography, Evoked Potentials, Female, Frontal Lobe, Humans, Language, Male, Psychomotor Performance, Reaction Time, Comprehension, Young Adult

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