Sensorimotor influences on concepts acquisition and representation

This new line of research explores the impact of the extensive use of an oral device since infancy (pacifier) on acquisition and processing of concrete, abstract and emotional concepts. While recent evidence showed a negative relation between pacifier overuse and children's emotional competence, the possible interaction between use of pacifier and processing of emotional and abstract language has not been investigated. According to recent theories, while all concepts are grounded in sensorimotor experience, abstract concepts activate linguistic and social information more than concrete ones. Since the pacifier affects facial mimicry forcing mouth muscles into a static position, we hypothesize its possible interference on acquisition/consolidation of abstract and emotional concepts, which are mainly conveyed during social and linguistic interactions, than of concrete concepts.

Publications on this topic:

  • Barca, L., Mazzuca, C., Borghi, A. (2020). Overusing the pacifier sets a footprint on abstract words processing. Journal of Child Language, 1-16. doi:10.1017/S0305000920000070
  • Barca, L. (2019, November 19). Toward a speech-motor account of the effect of Age of Pacifier Withdrawal. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/whmp3
  • Borghi, A. M., Barca, L., Binkofski, F., & Tummolini, L. (2018). Abstract concepts, language and sociality: from acquisition to inner speech. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 20170134. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2017.0134
  • Borghi, A. M., Barca, L., Binkofski, F., & Tummolini, L. (2018). Varieties of abstract concepts: development, use and representation in the brain. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 20170121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2017.0121
  • Barca, L., Mazzuca, C., Borghi, A. (2018). Pacifier modulates conceptual relationships of abstract and emotional concepts. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 2014, 1-19. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02014
  • Barca, L., Mazzuca, C., Borghi, A. (preprint). Pacifier overuse interferes with children’s abstract concept processing. http://dx.doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/P7A9U
  • Mazzuca, C., Barca, A., Borghi, A. (2017). The particularity of emotional words: a grounded approach. Rivista Internazionale di Filosofia e Psicologia, 8 (2), 124-133.
  • Pezzulo, G., Barca, L., D'Ausilio, A. (2014). The sensorimotor and social sides of the architecture of speech. Behavioral and Brain Sciences Commentary Invitation, 37(6), 569-570