Semantic satiation

Semantic saturation ( verbal saturation) is a psychological phenomenon in which the multiple repetition of a word leads to a temporary change of meaning or loss. When fully saturated, the word is perceived only as a meaningless string of sounds similar to unknown words from foreign languages.

The phenomenon can be explained that the verbal repetition of a specific neural patterns in the cerebral cortex stimulates that represents the meaning of the word. The repeated excitation of the neurons leads to neuronal inhibition, therefore, whereby the intensity of each new stimulus is attenuated.