Riddoch and Humphreys’ model (1987) distinguish structural representations from semantic representations. In this work, we propose to investigate the issue of objects motion direction as being a structural property. In order to do so, we use a priming technique in a semantic task (categorial decisions) and in a task which is supposed to be a structural one (decisions concerning the objects motion direction). We manipulate the prime-target connection (semantic connection, structural connection, semantic and structural connection, no connection, or absence of prime) in order to bring about a positive or negative priming situation.

The comparison of these two tasks tends to show that the subjects’ response is faster in the case of an objects motion direction decision than in the case of a categorial decision. This supports the idea that the direction of motion belongs to the structural representations.

These results go along with the classical result of the hierarchisation of objects representations, the structural representations being attained before the semantic representations.