Action verb understanding in first-episode schizophrenia: Is there evidence for a simulation deficit?

► Motor simulation as a basic strategy to semantically judge action verbs. ► Schizophrenia is often associated with semantic impairments. ► Action verb understanding is preserved in first episode psychosis patients. ► Patients use simulation to compensate deficits in maintaining semantic information. ► Abnormalities in DLPFC correlate with altered sensitivity of patients' performance.