The processing of negation

Conjoined cognitions, both linguistic and perceptual, can be represented by the schema [ M 1 → M 2 ] and/but [ M 3 → M 4 ], with meaning units ( M s, corresponding to subjects and predicates) related positively or negatively (e.g., by is or is not ). The conjoining of the constituent cognitions by and or but depends on their congruence or incongruence. Difficulties of processing three types of negation representable in this schema—negative affective polarity of meaning units, cognitive incongruence between them, and the negation of relation due to inserted not s—were indicated by latencies of responding with and or but to conjoined sentences in which blanks replaced the appropriate conjunctions. The results indicate that meaning units must be cognized and compared before relation negation can be applied.