Based on ERP studies of language predictability, which sentence would likely generate the largest N400 effect in response to the underlined word?
A) The teacher spilled his tea.
B) He stopped by the store to pick up a loaf of cheese.
C) The runner tripped over a root.
D) He eats his cereal in a bowls.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The N400 effect is larger for words that are semantically incongruent or unexpected in a given context. In choice B, "a loaf of cheese" is unexpected because cheese is not typically described as coming in loaves, making it the most likely to generate a large N400 effect.

Based on ERP Studies of Language Predictability, Which Sentence Would