''How To Do Things with Words'': Role of Motor Cortex in Semantic Representation of Action Words

Autor/inn/en	Kana, Rajesh K.; Blum, Elizabeth R.; Ladden, Stacy Levin; Ver Hoef, Lawrence W.
Titel	''How To Do Things with Words'': Role of Motor Cortex in Semantic Representation of Action Words
Quelle	In: Neuropsychologia, 50 (2012) 14, S.3403-3409 (7 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0028-3932
DOI	10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2012.09.006
Schlagwörter	Brain Hemisphere Functions; Semantics; Adults; Comprehension + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Semantik; Verstehen; Verständnis
Abstract	Language, believed to have originated from actions, not only functions as a medium to access other minds, but it also helps us commit actions and enriches our social life. This fMRI study investigated the semantic and neural representations of actions and mental states. We focused mainly on language semantics (comprehending sentences with "action" words versus those with "mental state" words). While in an fMRI scanner, twenty-four healthy, right-handed adult volunteers read a series of sentences with a verb depicting either a "mental state" (e.g., deceive, persuade) or an "action" (e.g., punch, kick), and answered a comprehension question that followed. Overall, this task showed brain activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus and in the left posterior superior temporal sulci. While comprehending sentences with mental state terms, participants showed greater activation in left orbitofrontal, and in left precuneus areas. On the other hand, the action sentences recruited more primary motor, left inferior parietal, bilateral occipital, right superior temporal, and right inferior frontal areas. The findings of this study underscore the role of motor and visuospatial involvement in action word representation in the human brain. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.) (As Provided).
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Update	2017/4/10