The role of implicit motor simulation on action verb memory

Observation is known to improve memory for action. Previous findings linked such an effect with an easier relation processing of action components following observation compared to mere sentence reading. However, action observation also elicits implicit motor simulation, that is a processing of one’s movement through the observer own motor system. We aimed to assess whether encoding of implicit motor simulation can also explain why observation is better than reading for action memory. To prevent influence of item relation processing, two studies about isolated action verbs learning were designed. In Experiment 1, action verbs were encoded with short videos of point-light human movements or with written definitions. Subsequent free recall indicated better memory for the verbs within the video clip condition. Experiment 2 compared two encoding conditions based on point-light human movement videos. Half of the verbs were learned with their normal corresponding movement (biological kinematic). For the other half of the verbs, the velocity of point-light movements was modified to create abnormal nonbiological kinematic actions. We observed better free recall for the verbs learned with biological kinematics. Taken together, those results suggest that action observation is beneficial because it allows the encoding of motor-related information (implicit motor simulation). Semantic resonance between linguistic and motor representations of action could also contribute to memory improvement. Contrary to previous studies, our results cannot be explained by an improvement of items relation processing. However, it suggests that the basic level of action verb memory is sensorimotor perception, such as implicit motor simulation.