Evoked potentials and the dynamics of language processing.

It is observed, in a brief review of studies of evoked potentials and language processing, that for the most part only global and rather static aspects have been investigated. It is argued that the important topic of the dynamics of work recognition has been neglected. The evolution of 'spreading activation' models of semantic processing is briefly traced. These postulate pre-conscious word recognition in a semantic network where radiation of excitation between semantically related 'nodes' or 'logogens' account for important context effects on word recognition. It is suggested that evoked potential studies could be used to test and elaborate this model. An experiment is described in which discrimination between positive and negative instances of primed categories by enhancement of the N1-P2 (N130-P212) amplitude measure supports the notion of early and possibly pre-conscious attainment of work meaning and also indicates enhanced activation from word detection units sensitized by spread of activation from a category prime.