The Role of Motor Imagery in Word Learning
The IM-APP project examines the impact of kinesthetic motor imagery (KMI) on the acquisition of new words. Grounded in embodied cognition theory, it posits that language comprehension and memorization are closely linked to sensorimotor experiences. KMI, which involves imagining oneself performing a movement while focusing on the associated sensations, is already used in motor rehabilitation and may also facilitate vocabulary acquisition. Recent studies have shown that associating a mental action with a word improves memory retention and semantic understanding. The mechanisms involved in this strategy are thought to be linked to motor simulation mechanisms, which suggest that a modal mental simulation occurs when accessing concepts. Strengthening these links would allow for better consolidation of learning, particularly in the context of word learning. However, these approaches need to be tested in a rigorous experimental setting and applied to concrete educational contexts. This project is based on three research components. First, we will evaluate the effect of IMK training on new word learning by comparing participants practicing IMK with a control group. This method will then be tested with learners of French as a second language (L2), in collaboration with the University Center for French Studies (CUEF) in Grenoble, to assess its relevance for language teaching. Concurrently, a psycholinguistic database will be developed to catalog the sensorimotor properties of French words, drawing inspiration from similar existing databases in English and Italian. Expected results include a significant improvement in word learning through the IMK, particularly for concrete words and manipulable objects, as well as an optimization of teaching strategies for L2 learners. The impact of this research could extend to education, by proposing innovative methods for vocabulary learning, as well as to neuropsychology, by exploring the role of motor mechanisms in language cognition.
IMAPP Project Partners
PALLUEL-GERMAIN, Richard; LPNC
PERRONE-BERTOLOTTI, Marcela; LPNC
ABOU HAIDAR, Laura; LIDILEM
CARRAS, Catherine; LIDILEM
NEW, Boris; LPNC
OUT LOUD: Tell me about your CerCoG project!
Léna JAHIER, PhD candidate in the IMAPP project
Who is she?
My bachelor’s degree in psychology and my master’s degree in research psychology fromUniversité Grenoble Alpes allowedUniversité Grenoble Alpes to identify a field of study that particularly interests me: embodied cognition. This area of research highlights the fact that our reasoning is not based solely on abstract, formal, and immutable rules, but rather results from the constant interaction between our bodies and our environment.
During my two-year master’s program, I conducted research under the supervision of Richard Palluel-Germain and Marcela Perrone-Bertolotti, with additional guidance from Mariam Bayram during my first year. This project aimed to examine the effect of kinesthetic motor imagery training on the acquisition of new words. Such training involves imagining oneself performing movements while focusing on the associated bodily sensations, particularly those involving muscles and joints. The initial hypothesis was that this type of practice would pre-activate the brain circuits related to motor function, thereby facilitating their activation during subsequent lexical learning tasks. Within this framework, we conducted several experiments comparing the memory performance of a group that underwent motor imagery training with that of a control group.
The aim of this dissertation is to build upon and expand this work. Indeed, the results obtained so far have varied depending on the tasks and experiments. A first step will therefore be to refine the experimental design in order to assess more precisely whether the expected effect exists, as well as the conditions that facilitate its emergence. Furthermore, we will apply this protocol to the context of second-language French learning among adults, in collaboration with Laura Abou Haidar and Catherine Carras of the University Center for French Studies (CUEF).
Across the board, this research will also include the development of a psycholinguistic database of sensorimotor norms. While comparable resources already exist in English and Italian, no such comprehensive database currently exists in French. However, numerous studies in embodied cognition highlight the importance of controlling for the degree of motor involvement in linguistic material in this type of research.
The aim of this dissertation is to contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between motor skills and language, while developing practical tools for language learning and for future research in this field.
Link to partner laboratories