Word class-specific differences in brain evoked potentials
(EP) are discussed for connotative meaning and for function versus
content words. A well-controlled experiment found matching
lexical decision times for function and content words, but clear EP
differences (component with maximum near 550 msec) among
function words, content words, and nonwords that depended on
brain site. Another EP component, with a 480 msec maximum,
differentiated words (either function or content) from
nonwords.
