Francesca Peressotti
Professor
Telephone: 0498276582
Via Venezia 8 – Room 02.019
francesca.peressotti@unipd.it
Via Venezia 8 – Room 02.019
francesca.peressotti@unipd.it
Research Areas
Language system; Language and cognition interactions
Specific research interests:
- Predictive processing in language comprehension
- Biligualism, multilinguyalism and dialects
- Speech processing
- Sign languages
- Lexical access, orthography, reading and writing
Active research grants:
“Perceiving and predicting multisensory speech: a window on the interplay between sensory and motor processes and brain representations”, codice MUR 2022 FT8HNC (Bando PRIN 2022 – DD 104 del 02/02/2022) – CUP “C53D23004130006
Selected Publications
2024
Sala, Marco; Vespignani, Francesco; Casalino, Laura; Peressotti, Francesca
I know how you’ll say it: evidence of speaker-specific speech prediction Journal Article
In: Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, pp. 1–13, 2024.
@article{sala2024know,
title = {I know how you’ll say it: evidence of speaker-specific speech prediction},
author = { Marco Sala and Francesco Vespignani and Laura Casalino and Francesca Peressotti},
url = {http://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Sala-et-al_PBR_2024.pdf},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
urldate = {2024-01-01},
journal = {Psychonomic Bulletin & Review},
pages = {1--13},
publisher = {Springer},
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pubstate = {published},
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2023
Peressotti, Francesca; Lorenzoni, Anna; Miozzo, Michele
Moral judgments in native, regional, and foreign languages Journal Article
In: Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, pp. 1–10, 2023.
@article{peressotti2022moral,
title = {Moral judgments in native, regional, and foreign languages},
author = { Francesca Peressotti and Anna Lorenzoni and Michele Miozzo},
url = {https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bilingualism-language-and-cognition/article/moral-judgments-in-native-regional-and-foreign-languages/862AEAEFA2D2443B6943CD90D8E843A4http://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Peressotti-et-al_2023-Bilingualism_MFQ.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728923000342 },
year = {2023},
date = {2023-06-02},
urldate = {2023-06-02},
journal = {Bilingualism: Language and Cognition},
pages = {1--10},
publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
abstract = {We examined moral judgments in three types of language: a native national language (Italian), a non-native foreign language (English), and a native regional language (Venetian, oral and colloquial). We used the Moral Foundation Questionnaire to investigate cross-linguistic differences in multiple aspects of morality. Higher scores in the Harm, Purity and Fairness dimensions were obtained in the foreign and the regional language with respect to the national language. In addition, higher scores in the Ingroup dimension were obtained in the foreign language with respect to the native language. The effects of language on morality can thus be quite pervasive, involving a variety of aspects of morality. The differences we observed across these languages are explained in terms of their sociolinguistics – specifically, the greater use of national languages with moral values and beliefs. It is proposed that language effects arise because the language that is used activates information associated with it.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
We examined moral judgments in three types of language: a native national language (Italian), a non-native foreign language (English), and a native regional language (Venetian, oral and colloquial). We used the Moral Foundation Questionnaire to investigate cross-linguistic differences in multiple aspects of morality. Higher scores in the Harm, Purity and Fairness dimensions were obtained in the foreign and the regional language with respect to the national language. In addition, higher scores in the Ingroup dimension were obtained in the foreign language with respect to the native language. The effects of language on morality can thus be quite pervasive, involving a variety of aspects of morality. The differences we observed across these languages are explained in terms of their sociolinguistics – specifically, the greater use of national languages with moral values and beliefs. It is proposed that language effects arise because the language that is used activates information associated with it.
2022
Miozzo, Michele; Peressotti, Francesca
How the hand has shaped sign languages Journal Article
In: Scientific Reports, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 11980, 2022.
@article{miozzo2022hand,
title = {How the hand has shaped sign languages},
author = {Michele Miozzo and Francesca Peressotti},
url = {http://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Miozzo_Peressotti_SciRep_2022.pdf},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {11980},
publisher = {Nature Publishing Group UK London},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2020
Gastaldon, Simone; Arcara, Giorgio; Navarrete, Eduardo; Peressotti, Francesca
Commonalities in alpha and beta neural desynchronizations during prediction in language comprehension and production Journal Article
In: Cortex, vol. 131, pp. 328-345, 2020, ISSN: 00109452.
@article{Gastaldon2020,
title = {Commonalities in alpha and beta neural desynchronizations during prediction in language comprehension and production},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Giorgio Arcara and Eduardo Navarrete and Francesca Peressotti},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010945220303701
http://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gastaldon_et_al_2020_Cortex.pdf},
doi = {10.1016/j.cortex.2020.09.026},
issn = {00109452},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-10-13},
urldate = {2020-10-13},
journal = {Cortex},
volume = {131},
pages = {328-345},
publisher = {Elsevier},
abstract = {We recorded EEG from participants performing both a comprehension and a production task in two separate blocks. Participants listened to high and low constraint incomplete sentences and were asked either to name a picture to complete it (production) or to simply listen to the final word (comprehension). We found that in a silent gap before the final stimulus, predictable stimuli elicited alpha and beta desynchronization in both tasks, signaling the pre-activation of linguistic information. Source estimation highlighted the involvement of left-lateralized language areas and temporo-parietal areas in the right hemisphere. Furthermore, correlations between the desynchronizations in comprehension and production showed spatiotemporal commonalities in language- relevant areas of the left hemisphere. As proposed by prediction-by-production models, our results suggest that comprehenders engage the production system while predicting upcoming words.
Keywords: language prediction, language production, alpha–beta oscillations, internal model},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
We recorded EEG from participants performing both a comprehension and a production task in two separate blocks. Participants listened to high and low constraint incomplete sentences and were asked either to name a picture to complete it (production) or to simply listen to the final word (comprehension). We found that in a silent gap before the final stimulus, predictable stimuli elicited alpha and beta desynchronization in both tasks, signaling the pre-activation of linguistic information. Source estimation highlighted the involvement of left-lateralized language areas and temporo-parietal areas in the right hemisphere. Furthermore, correlations between the desynchronizations in comprehension and production showed spatiotemporal commonalities in language- relevant areas of the left hemisphere. As proposed by prediction-by-production models, our results suggest that comprehenders engage the production system while predicting upcoming words.
Keywords: language prediction, language production, alpha–beta oscillations, internal model
Keywords: language prediction, language production, alpha–beta oscillations, internal model
Miozzo, Michele; Navarrete, Eduardo; Ongis, Martino; Mello, Enrica; Girotto, Vittorio; Peressotti, Francesca
Foreign language effect in decision-making: How foreign is it? Journal Article
In: Cognition, vol. 199, pp. 104245, 2020.
@article{miozzo2020foreign,
title = {Foreign language effect in decision-making: How foreign is it?},
author = {Michele Miozzo and Eduardo Navarrete and Martino Ongis and Enrica Mello and Vittorio Girotto and Francesca Peressotti},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
urldate = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Cognition},
volume = {199},
pages = {104245},
publisher = {Elsevier},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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Publications
2024
Gastaldon, Simone; Bonfiglio, Noemi; Vespignani, Francesco; Peressotti, Francesca
Predictive language processing: integrating comprehension and production, and what atypical populations can tell us Journal Article
In: Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 15, pp. 1369177, 2024.
@article{gastaldon2024predictive,
title = {Predictive language processing: integrating comprehension and production, and what atypical populations can tell us},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Noemi Bonfiglio and Francesco Vespignani and Francesca Peressotti},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1369177},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-05-21},
urldate = {2024-05-21},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychology},
volume = {15},
pages = {1369177},
publisher = {Frontiers Media SA},
abstract = {Predictive processing, a crucial aspect of human cognition, is also relevant for language comprehension. In everyday situations, we exploit various sources of information to anticipate and therefore facilitate processing of upcoming linguistic input. In the literature, there are a variety of models that aim at accounting for such ability. One group of models propose a strict relationship between prediction and language production mechanisms. In this review, we first introduce very briefly the concept of predictive processing during language comprehension. Secondly, we focus on models that attribute a prominent role to language production and sensorimotor processing in language prediction (“prediction-by-production” models). Contextually, we provide a summary of studies that investigated the role of speech production and auditory perception on language comprehension/prediction tasks in healthy, typical participants. Then, we provide an overview of the limited existing literature on specific atypical/clinical populations that may represent suitable testing ground for such models–i.e., populations with impaired speech production and auditory perception mechanisms. Ultimately, we suggest a more widely and in-depth testing of prediction-by-production accounts, and the involvement of atypical populations both for model testing and as targets for possible novel speech/language treatment approaches.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Predictive processing, a crucial aspect of human cognition, is also relevant for language comprehension. In everyday situations, we exploit various sources of information to anticipate and therefore facilitate processing of upcoming linguistic input. In the literature, there are a variety of models that aim at accounting for such ability. One group of models propose a strict relationship between prediction and language production mechanisms. In this review, we first introduce very briefly the concept of predictive processing during language comprehension. Secondly, we focus on models that attribute a prominent role to language production and sensorimotor processing in language prediction (“prediction-by-production” models). Contextually, we provide a summary of studies that investigated the role of speech production and auditory perception on language comprehension/prediction tasks in healthy, typical participants. Then, we provide an overview of the limited existing literature on specific atypical/clinical populations that may represent suitable testing ground for such models–i.e., populations with impaired speech production and auditory perception mechanisms. Ultimately, we suggest a more widely and in-depth testing of prediction-by-production accounts, and the involvement of atypical populations both for model testing and as targets for possible novel speech/language treatment approaches.
Peressotti, Francesca; Pianezzola, Greta; Battistutta, Marta; Miozzo, Michele
Foreign and Regional Languages Make You Less Deontological Journal Article
In: Journal of Cognition, vol. 7, no. 1, 2024.
@article{peressotti2024foreign,
title = {Foreign and Regional Languages Make You Less Deontological},
author = { Francesca Peressotti and Greta Pianezzola and Marta Battistutta and Michele Miozzo},
url = {http://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Peressotti_et-al_JOC_2024.pdf},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
urldate = {2024-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Cognition},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
publisher = {Ubiquity Press},
keywords = {},
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Sala, Marco; Vespignani, Francesco; Casalino, Laura; Peressotti, Francesca
I know how you’ll say it: evidence of speaker-specific speech prediction Journal Article
In: Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, pp. 1–13, 2024.
@article{sala2024know,
title = {I know how you’ll say it: evidence of speaker-specific speech prediction},
author = { Marco Sala and Francesco Vespignani and Laura Casalino and Francesca Peressotti},
url = {http://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Sala-et-al_PBR_2024.pdf},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
urldate = {2024-01-01},
journal = {Psychonomic Bulletin & Review},
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publisher = {Springer},
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pubstate = {published},
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2023
Peressotti, Francesca; Lorenzoni, Anna; Miozzo, Michele
Moral judgments in native, regional, and foreign languages Journal Article
In: Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, pp. 1–10, 2023.
@article{peressotti2022moral,
title = {Moral judgments in native, regional, and foreign languages},
author = { Francesca Peressotti and Anna Lorenzoni and Michele Miozzo},
url = {https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bilingualism-language-and-cognition/article/moral-judgments-in-native-regional-and-foreign-languages/862AEAEFA2D2443B6943CD90D8E843A4http://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Peressotti-et-al_2023-Bilingualism_MFQ.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728923000342 },
year = {2023},
date = {2023-06-02},
urldate = {2023-06-02},
journal = {Bilingualism: Language and Cognition},
pages = {1--10},
publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
abstract = {We examined moral judgments in three types of language: a native national language (Italian), a non-native foreign language (English), and a native regional language (Venetian, oral and colloquial). We used the Moral Foundation Questionnaire to investigate cross-linguistic differences in multiple aspects of morality. Higher scores in the Harm, Purity and Fairness dimensions were obtained in the foreign and the regional language with respect to the national language. In addition, higher scores in the Ingroup dimension were obtained in the foreign language with respect to the native language. The effects of language on morality can thus be quite pervasive, involving a variety of aspects of morality. The differences we observed across these languages are explained in terms of their sociolinguistics – specifically, the greater use of national languages with moral values and beliefs. It is proposed that language effects arise because the language that is used activates information associated with it.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
We examined moral judgments in three types of language: a native national language (Italian), a non-native foreign language (English), and a native regional language (Venetian, oral and colloquial). We used the Moral Foundation Questionnaire to investigate cross-linguistic differences in multiple aspects of morality. Higher scores in the Harm, Purity and Fairness dimensions were obtained in the foreign and the regional language with respect to the national language. In addition, higher scores in the Ingroup dimension were obtained in the foreign language with respect to the native language. The effects of language on morality can thus be quite pervasive, involving a variety of aspects of morality. The differences we observed across these languages are explained in terms of their sociolinguistics – specifically, the greater use of national languages with moral values and beliefs. It is proposed that language effects arise because the language that is used activates information associated with it.
Gastaldon, S.; Busan, P.; Arcara, G.; Peressotti, F.
Inefficient speech-motor control affects predictive speech comprehension: atypical electrophysiological correlates in stuttering Journal Article
In: Cerebral Cortex, 2023.
@article{Gastaldon2023,
title = {Inefficient speech-motor control affects predictive speech comprehension: atypical electrophysiological correlates in stuttering},
author = {S. Gastaldon and P. Busan and G. Arcara and F. Peressotti},
url = {10.1093/cercor/bhad004},
doi = {10.1093/cercor/bhad004},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-21},
urldate = {2023-01-21},
journal = {Cerebral Cortex},
abstract = {Listeners predict upcoming information during language comprehension. However, how this ability is implemented is still largely unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis proposing that language production mechanisms have a role in prediction. We studied 2 electroencephalographic correlates of predictability during speech comprehension—pre-target alpha–beta (8–30 Hz) power decrease and the post-target N400 event-related potential effect—in a population with impaired speech-motor control, i.e. adults who stutter (AWS), compared to typically fluent adults (TFA). Participants listened to sentences that could either constrain towards a target word or not, modulating its predictability. As a complementary task, participants also performed context-driven word production. Compared to TFA, AWS not only displayed atypical neural responses in production, but, critically, they showed a different pattern also in comprehension. Specifically, while TFA showed the expected pre-target power decrease, AWS showed a power increase in frontal regions, associated with speech-motor control. In addition, the post-target N400 effect was reduced for AWS with respect to TFA. Finally, we found that production and comprehension power changes were positively correlated in TFA, but not in AWS. Overall, the results support the idea that processes and neural structures prominently devoted to speech planning also support prediction during speech comprehension.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Listeners predict upcoming information during language comprehension. However, how this ability is implemented is still largely unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis proposing that language production mechanisms have a role in prediction. We studied 2 electroencephalographic correlates of predictability during speech comprehension—pre-target alpha–beta (8–30 Hz) power decrease and the post-target N400 event-related potential effect—in a population with impaired speech-motor control, i.e. adults who stutter (AWS), compared to typically fluent adults (TFA). Participants listened to sentences that could either constrain towards a target word or not, modulating its predictability. As a complementary task, participants also performed context-driven word production. Compared to TFA, AWS not only displayed atypical neural responses in production, but, critically, they showed a different pattern also in comprehension. Specifically, while TFA showed the expected pre-target power decrease, AWS showed a power increase in frontal regions, associated with speech-motor control. In addition, the post-target N400 effect was reduced for AWS with respect to TFA. Finally, we found that production and comprehension power changes were positively correlated in TFA, but not in AWS. Overall, the results support the idea that processes and neural structures prominently devoted to speech planning also support prediction during speech comprehension.
Ambrosini, Ettore; Peressotti, Francesca; Gennari, Marisa; Benavides-Varela, Silvia; Montefinese, Maria
Aging-related effects on the controlled retrieval of semantic information. Journal Article
In: Psychology and Aging, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 219, 2023.
@article{ambrosini2023aging,
title = {Aging-related effects on the controlled retrieval of semantic information.},
author = { Ettore Ambrosini and Francesca Peressotti and Marisa Gennari and Silvia Benavides-Varela and Maria Montefinese},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000740},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
urldate = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Psychology and Aging},
volume = {38},
number = {3},
pages = {219},
publisher = {American Psychological Association},
abstract = {The efficient use of knowledge requires semantic control processes to retrieve context-relevant information. So far, it is well-established that semantic knowledge, as measured with vocabulary tests, does not decline with aging. Yet, it is still unclear whether controlled retrieval—the context-driven retrieval of very specific aspects of semantic knowledge—deteriorates in aging, following the same fate as other forms of cognitive control. Here, we tackled this issue by comparing the performance of younger and older native Italian speakers during a semantic feature verification task. To manipulate the control demands, we parametrically varied the semantic salience of the target feature for the cue concept. As compared to their young counterparts, older adults showed worse performance (in terms of reaction times) as the salience of the target feature of the concept decreased. This result suggests that older people have relatively greater difficulties in regulating the activation within semantic representation when conditions pose high demands of controlled retrieval of semantic information.
},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The efficient use of knowledge requires semantic control processes to retrieve context-relevant information. So far, it is well-established that semantic knowledge, as measured with vocabulary tests, does not decline with aging. Yet, it is still unclear whether controlled retrieval—the context-driven retrieval of very specific aspects of semantic knowledge—deteriorates in aging, following the same fate as other forms of cognitive control. Here, we tackled this issue by comparing the performance of younger and older native Italian speakers during a semantic feature verification task. To manipulate the control demands, we parametrically varied the semantic salience of the target feature for the cue concept. As compared to their young counterparts, older adults showed worse performance (in terms of reaction times) as the salience of the target feature of the concept decreased. This result suggests that older people have relatively greater difficulties in regulating the activation within semantic representation when conditions pose high demands of controlled retrieval of semantic information.
Lago, Sara; Pezzetta, Rachele; Gastaldon, Simone; Peressotti, Francesca; Arcara, Giorgio
Trial-by-trial fluctuations of pre-stimulus alpha power predict language ERPs Journal Article
In: Psychophysiology, vol. 60, no. 12, pp. e14388, 2023.
@article{lago2023trial,
title = {Trial-by-trial fluctuations of pre-stimulus alpha power predict language ERPs},
author = {Sara Lago and Rachele Pezzetta and Simone Gastaldon and Francesca Peressotti and Giorgio Arcara},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
urldate = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Psychophysiology},
volume = {60},
number = {12},
pages = {e14388},
publisher = {Wiley Online Library},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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2022
Del Maschio, N; Crespi, F; Peressotti, F; Abutalebi, J; Sulpizio, S
Decision-making depends on language: A meta-analysis of the Foreign Language Effect Journal Article
In: Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, pp. 1-14, 2022.
@article{DelMaschio2022,
title = {Decision-making depends on language: A meta-analysis of the Foreign Language Effect},
author = {Del Maschio, N and Crespi, F and Peressotti, F and Abutalebi, J and Sulpizio, S },
url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728921001012},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-02-17},
journal = {Bilingualism: Language and Cognition},
pages = {1-14},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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Guerra, Silvia; Bonato, Bianca; Wang, Qiuran; Peressotti, Alessandro; Peressotti, Francesca; Baccinelli, Walter; Bulgheroni, Maria; Castiello, Umberto
Kinematic Evidence of Root-to-Shoot Signaling for the Coding of Support Thickness in Pea Plants Journal Article
In: Biology, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 405, 2022.
@article{guerra2022kinematic,
title = {Kinematic Evidence of Root-to-Shoot Signaling for the Coding of Support Thickness in Pea Plants},
author = {Silvia Guerra and Bianca Bonato and Qiuran Wang and Alessandro Peressotti and Francesca Peressotti and Walter Baccinelli and Maria Bulgheroni and Umberto Castiello},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
pages = {405},
publisher = {MDPI},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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}
Quartarone, Cinzia; Navarrete, Eduardo; Budisavljevi'c, Sanja; Peressotti, Francesca
Exploring the ventral white matter language network in bimodal and unimodal bilinguals Journal Article
In: Brain and Language, vol. 235, pp. 105187, 2022.
@article{quartarone2022exploring,
title = {Exploring the ventral white matter language network in bimodal and unimodal bilinguals},
author = {Cinzia Quartarone and Eduardo Navarrete and Sanja Budisavljevi'c and Francesca Peressotti},
url = {http://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Quartarone-et-al_2022-BL.pdf},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Brain and Language},
volume = {235},
pages = {105187},
publisher = {Elsevier},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
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