Selective attention to semantic and syntactic features modulates sentence processing networks in anterior temporal cortex

Corianne Rogalsky, Gregory Hickok

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

147 Scopus citations

Abstract

Numerous studies have identified an anterior temporal lobe (ATL) region that responds preferentially to sentence-level stimuli. It is unclear, however, whether this activity reflects a response to syntactic computations or some form of semantic integration. This distinction is difficult to investigate with the stimulus manipulations and anomaly detection paradigms traditionally implemented. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging study addresses this question via a selective attention paradigm. Subjects monitored for occasional semantic anomalies or occasional syntactic errors, thus directing their attention to semantic integration, or syntactic properties of the sentences. The hemodynamic response in the sentence-selective ATL region (defined with a localizer scan) was examined during anomaly/error-free sentences only, to avoid confounds due to error detection. The majority of the sentence-specific region of interest was equally modulated by attention to syntactic or compositional semantic features, whereas a smaller subregion was only modulated by the semantic task. We suggest that the sentence-specific ATL region is sensitive to both syntactic and integrative semantic functions during sentence processing, with a smaller portion of this area preferentially involved in the later. This study also suggests that selective attention paradigms may be effective tools to investigate the functional diversity of networks involved in sentence processing.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)786-796
Number of pages11
JournalCerebral Cortex
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • ATL
  • FMRI
  • Language
  • Semantics
  • Speech
  • Syntax

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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