Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare event-related potential (ERP) effects of speech processing and effects in sentence reading elicited by sentences containing gapping structures, or a "missing" verb. N400 and P600 waveforms were collected in 20 adults between 18 and 30 years of age. Two experiments were conducted with each participant. In the two experiments ERP recordings were collected as sentences, some containing gapping structures, were presented to the subjects. In one experiment sentences were presented through headphones in sentences spoken at normal rate and with normal intonation. In the second experiment sentences with the same gapping structures were presented on a computer screen word by word at a rate of four words per second. Results suggest that all gapping structures are processed at approximately the same time. Amplitude and topography differences were seen between stimuli types and modalities.

Degree

College and Department

David O. McKay School of Education; Communication Disorders

Rights

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