What are the categorical distinctions shared between
conceptual and visual representations? One distinction may
be between bounded and unbounded entities. Previous
research in sign language has shown that even non-signers
associate signs with repetitive motion with atelic verbs, such
as “run”, and signs with sudden motion with telic verbs, such
as “arrive”. In our first study, we show this distinction holds
even when the visual stimuli depicted bear no intrinsic
linguistic reference: we used non-linguistic random dot
motions. In our second study, we demonstrate this association
occurs spontaneously, even when subjects are not making
explicit semantic judgments about verbs. We use a cross-
modal lexical decision task in which verbs and non-words
appear superimposed on bounded or unbounded dot stimuli.
We find congruency when the motion boundedness matches
the conceptual boundedness of the verb. Together, these
studies provide evidence for an automatic link between visual
and conceptual boundedness in the mind.