Embodied cognition posits that processing concepts requires sensorimotor activation. Previous research has shown that perceived power is spatially embodied along the vertical axis. However, it is unclear whether such mapping applies equally in the two languages of bilinguals. Using event‐related potentials, we compared spatial embodiment correlates in participants reporting the source of auditory words as being presented from above or below their sitting position. English bilinguals responded faster for congruent presentations of high‐power words (presented above) but not for congruent presentations of low‐power words (presented below) in both languages. Low‐power words together also failed to modulate N400 amplitude or interact with language. However, follow‐up analyses on high‐power words showed congruency effects on N400 amplitude in Chinese but not in English. Finally, English controls showed no effect. This suggests that spatial embodiment differs across languages in bilinguals, but the roles of culture and proficiency require further research.

中文翻译：

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汉英双语者抽象概念空间隐喻的不同语言体现

具身认知认为处理概念需要感觉运动激活。先前的研究表明，感知权力在空间上沿着垂直轴体现。然而，目前尚不清楚这种映射是否同样适用于双语者的两种语言。使用事件相关电位，我们比较了报告听觉单词来源从其坐姿上方或下方呈现的参与者的空间体现相关性。英语双语者对高强度单词（如上所示）的一致呈现反应更快，但对低强度单词（如下所示）的一致呈现反应更快。低功率单词一起也无法调节 N400 幅度或与语言相互作用。然而，对高功率词的后续分析表明，中文中的 N400 幅度具有一致性效应，而英语中则不然。最后，英语对照没有效果。这表明双语者的空间体现因语言而异，但文化和熟练程度的作用需要进一步研究。