Neural and behavioural effects of typicality, denotation and composition in an adjective–noun combination task

Formal semantics states that the meanings of phrases are composed from constituent parts and syntax. Little is known about how composition neurally implemented. We studied ERP behavioural responses to determiner-adjective-noun phrases. assessed effects typicality denotation, using intersective (typical: “A green turtle”, atypical: “An orange turtle”) or subsective adjectives slow fast turtle”). After each phrase, participants responded two questions (e.g., for turtle”: “Is it a common turtle?”; animal?”). contrasted these 4 semantic conditions, requiring composition, 2 nonsemantic where adjective was replaced with pseudoword nonword. This contrast revealed larger P600, if performed task without instructions feedback (experiment 1), sustained negativity, they were nudged pay attention meaning by 2). Typicality denotation had an impact only on responses. discuss implications theories language processing compositional semantics.