Neuroscience 2005 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 128.10 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Functional MRI reveals recruitment of additional neural resources during disambiguation of sentences with a temporary structural ambiguity and high working memory load. |
| Authors: |
Santos, S. N.*1
; Gee, J.1,2
; Work, M.3
; Troiani, V.3
; Grossman, M.3
1Dept. Bioengineering, Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 2Dept. Radiology, Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 3Dept. Neurology, Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Cognition and Behavior - Human Cognition, Behavior, and Anatomy -- Language |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Cognition and Behavior<br />- Human Cognition, Behavior, and Anatomy<br />-- Working memory |
| Session: |
128. Language I Slide |
| Presentation Time: | Sunday, November 13, 2005 10:15 AM-10:30 AM |
| Location: | Washington Convention Center - Room 144A |
| Keywords: | LANGUAGE, NEUROIMAGING, NETWORK |
INTRODUCTION
As a sentence like “The citizens heard the election result was fixed” is being read, “the election result” may seem the direct object of “heard,” but it is the subject of a sentence complement verb. If we add a phrase before the ambiguity can be resolved – e.g. “The citizens heard the election result broadcasted on TV was fixed” – the disambiguation is further delayed. We hypothesized that sentence comprehension depends in part on dissociable resources like working memory and planning which are supported by a large-scale neural network.
METHODS
240 written sentences were shown to 19 subjects, phrase by phrase: [initial] [verb] [noun] ([WM]) [concluding]. 1/2 had a direct object (DO) structure, 1/2 sentence complement (SC). 1/3 had a DO-bias verb, 1/3 SC, 1/3 no bias. 1/2 had a DO-bias noun, 1/2 SC. Half had an additional “WM phrase”. Event-related BOLD fMRI was analyzed with a random effects model (SPM99). Images were registered, aligned (Talairach) and spatially smoothed (8mm).
RESULTS
A 2x2x2x2 ANOVA was performed with sentence-type, verb/noun-type, and WM factors. Less minus more consistent sentences showed dorsolateral PFC activation (Fig. 1 A). Panel B shows left supramarginal activation after subtraction of “with WM - without WM”.
CONCLUSIONS
Distinct brain regions are recruited to support executive resources during sentence processing. Dorsolateral PFC supports planning during the resolution of a temporary structural ambiguity, while left supramarginal activation supports WM by transiently retaining sentence information.
As a sentence like “The citizens heard the election result was fixed” is being read, “the election result” may seem the direct object of “heard,” but it is the subject of a sentence complement verb. If we add a phrase before the ambiguity can be resolved – e.g. “The citizens heard the election result broadcasted on TV was fixed” – the disambiguation is further delayed. We hypothesized that sentence comprehension depends in part on dissociable resources like working memory and planning which are supported by a large-scale neural network.
METHODS
240 written sentences were shown to 19 subjects, phrase by phrase: [initial] [verb] [noun] ([WM]) [concluding]. 1/2 had a direct object (DO) structure, 1/2 sentence complement (SC). 1/3 had a DO-bias verb, 1/3 SC, 1/3 no bias. 1/2 had a DO-bias noun, 1/2 SC. Half had an additional “WM phrase”. Event-related BOLD fMRI was analyzed with a random effects model (SPM99). Images were registered, aligned (Talairach) and spatially smoothed (8mm).
RESULTS
A 2x2x2x2 ANOVA was performed with sentence-type, verb/noun-type, and WM factors. Less minus more consistent sentences showed dorsolateral PFC activation (Fig. 1 A). Panel B shows left supramarginal activation after subtraction of “with WM - without WM”.
CONCLUSIONS
Distinct brain regions are recruited to support executive resources during sentence processing. Dorsolateral PFC supports planning during the resolution of a temporary structural ambiguity, while left supramarginal activation supports WM by transiently retaining sentence information.
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2005 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005. Online.
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