Category-effects with color and black-and-white pictures in naming and categorization tasks

Category-effects (CE) observed both in patients and normal subjects could be explained by structural similarity between the members of living things (LT) and inanimate objects (IO) semantic domains. The Pre-Semantic Account of the Categorial Effects (PACE) proposes that the perceptual demands of the possible task will work in favour/against each domain. The aim of this study is to assess the existence of CE in picture naming and picture categorization tasks using black and white and color pictures. Four groups of participants were assessed with picture naming task and categorization task. CE was observed in black and white picture naming task, black and white picture categorization task and in color picture categorization task. The CE disappeared in the color picture-naming task. The results partially agree with the PACE. These results are discussed considering the cognitive implications of the tasks used in this research.