Emotion processing in concrete and abstract words

Evidence From Eye Fixations During Reading

Bibliographic Data

ID7149986
AuthorsBo Yao (0000-0003-1852-2774, Lancaster University, corresponding author), Graham G Scott (0000-0002-7296-6264, University of the West of Scotland), Gösta Bruce (0000-0003-2593-1488, University of the West of Scotland), Ewa Monteith-Hodge (University of Glasgow), Sara C Sereno (0000-0001-7957-9542, University of Glasgow, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume39
Issue7
Pages1625-1634
Publication date2025-10-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCognition & Emotion (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0269-9931 • E-ISSN: 1464-0600
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/02699931.2024.2367062
PMID38961837
OpenAlexW4400330510
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited22

) target words appeared (separately) within contextually neutral, plausible sentences. Sixty-three participants each read all 132 experimental sentences while their eye movements were recorded. Analyses using Gamma generalised linear mixed models revealed significant effects of both Emotion and Concreteness on all fixation measures, indicating faster processing for emotional and concrete words. Additionally, there was a significant Emotion × Concreteness interaction which, critically, was modulated by Imageability in early fixation time measures. Emotion effects were significantly larger in higher-imageability abstract words than in lower-imageability ones, but remained unaffected by imageability in concrete words. These findings support the multimodal induction hypothesis and highlight the intricate interplay of these factors in the immediate stages of word processing during fluent reading

Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Concreteness · Developmental psychology · Emotionality · Linguistics · Recall · Word lists by frequency · Computer Science · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism · Psychology · Reading and Literacy Development