Effect of action verbs on the performance of a complex motor movement

Abstract

The relation between language and motor action has been approached by studying the possible effect of action verbs upon the performance of a complex motor movement, the classical squat vertical jump (SVJ), in naive male subjects. The results showed a statistically significant improvement of the height of the jump after loudly or silently pronouncing, hearing or reading the verb saute (jump in French). Action verbs specific for other actions (e.g.: pince = pinch, lèche = lick) or non-specific (bouge = move) showed no or little effect. A meaningless verb for the French subjects (tiáo = jump in Chinese) showed no effect as did rêve (dream). The verb gagne (win) stimulated instead the SVJ height indicating the possible influence of emotional stimuli, as it might have been expected. Surprisingly the pronunciation of perds (lose) also improved significantly the height of the SVJs. Finally, the improving effect of the specific action verb saute was similar to that obtained after kinaesthetic imagery of the SVJ and after mental subtraction of two digits numbers from three digits ones, possibly because of the intervention of language in calculus. As a possible conclusion, it appears that the effects of the specific action verb saute did not appear to be exclusive for the enhancement of the SVJs as other verbs unrelated to the action itself and even calculus might be effective in improving the height of the jump.