Abstract Conceptual Feature Ratings Predict Gaze Within Written Word Arrays: Evidence From a Visual Wor(l)d Paradigm

Abstract

The Abstract Conceptual Feature (ACF) framework predicts that word meaning is represented within a high-dimensional semantic space bounded by weighted contributions of perceptual, affective, and encyclopedic information. The ACF, like latent semantic analysis, is amenable to distance metrics between any two words. We applied predictions of the ACF framework to abstract words using eyetracking via an adaptation of the classical "visual word paradigm" (VWP). Healthy adults (n = 20) selected the lexical item most related to a probe word in a 4-item written word array comprising the target and three distractors. The relation between the probe and each of the four words was determined using the semantic distance metrics derived from ACF ratings. Eye movement data indicated that the word that was most semantically related to the probe received more and longer fixations relative to distractors. Importantly, in sets where participants did not provide an overt behavioral response, the fixation rates were nonetheless significantly higher for targets than distractors, closely resembling trials where an expected response was given. Furthermore, ACF ratings which are based on individual words predicted eye fixation metrics of probe-target similarity at least as well as latent semantic analysis ratings which are based on word co-occurrence. The results provide further validation of Euclidean distance metrics derived from ACF ratings as a measure of one facet of the semantic relatedness of abstract words and suggest that they represent a reasonable approximation of the organization of abstract conceptual space. The data are also compatible with the broad notion that multiple sources of information (not restricted to sensorimotor and emotion information) shape the organization of abstract concepts. While the adapted "VWP" is potentially a more metacognitive task than the classical visual world paradigm, we argue that it offers potential utility for studying abstract word comprehension.

Keywords: ACF ratings; Abstract knowledge; Eye movements; LSA cosines; Visual world paradigm.

Fig. 1

The topography of abstract and concrete nouns across twelve cognitive dimensions. Note: Each row in the heatmap matrix above represents one English noun. The 400 rows are rank ordered on the Y-axis by word concreteness from most abstract to most concrete. The twelve cognitive dimensions across the x-axis are ordered corresponding to their aggregative properties via factor analysis (for detailed discussion, see Troche et al., 2014). The heatmap color range reflects the average Likert scale rating (1–7 range) across participants (N=365).

Fig. 2

Mean and standard error (A) number of fixations, (B) mean fixation duration, and (C) total fixation duration, considering results both by semantic relatedness and position on screen.

Fig. 3

Scan path for each participant (numbered from 1 to 20) for the four quadrants where words were presented: top left, top right, bottom left and bottom right. In the top panel is represented the preview scan path while in the bottom panel is presented the post view scan path. For each trial the four quadrants were rank-ordered in order to establish in what sequence (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th) they were explored. Darker colors indicated an earlier exploration of the area, while progressively lighter colors indicated a later exploration.

Fig. 4

Proportion of fixation averaged by participants on the probe (red line), on the target and on the three distractors. On the left side of the panel the preview period (4 seconds) is reported, in the middle there is the probe presentation (2 seconds) and on the right side there is the post view condition. Smoothed confidence intervals are reported for each time series.