From reference to sense: how the brain encodes meaning for speaking
In speaking, semantic encoding is the conversion of a nonverbal mental representation (the reference) into a semantic structure suitable for expression (the sense). In this fMRI study on sentence production we investigate how the speaking brain accomplishes this transition from nonverbal to verbal r...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2012-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00384/full |
| _version_ | 1828241380672012288 |
|---|---|
| author | Laura eMenenti Laura eMenenti Karl Magnus ePetersson Peter eHagoort Peter eHagoort |
| author_facet | Laura eMenenti Laura eMenenti Karl Magnus ePetersson Peter eHagoort Peter eHagoort |
| author_sort | Laura eMenenti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In speaking, semantic encoding is the conversion of a nonverbal mental representation (the reference) into a semantic structure suitable for expression (the sense). In this fMRI study on sentence production we investigate how the speaking brain accomplishes this transition from nonverbal to verbal representations. In an overt picture description task, we manipulated repetition of sense (the semantic structure of the sentence) and reference (the described situation) separately. By investigating brain areas showing response adaptation to repetition of each of these sentence properties, we disentangle the neuronal infrastructure for these two components of semantic encoding. We also performed a control experiment with the same stimuli and design but without any linguistic task to identify areas involved in perception of the stimuli per se. The bilateral inferior parietal lobes were selectively sensitive to repetition of reference, while left inferior frontal gyrus showed selective suppression to repetition of sense. Strikingly, a widespread network of areas associated with language processing (left middle frontal gyrus, bilateral superior parietal lobes and bilateral posterior temporal gyri) all showed repetition suppression to both sense and reference processing. These areas are probably involved in mapping reference onto sense, the crucial step in semantic encoding. These results enable us to track the transition from nonverbal to verbal representations in our brains. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:57:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-368837b901b941be88ebeae1ecbd6332 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:57:14Z |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-368837b901b941be88ebeae1ecbd63322022-12-22T03:15:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782012-01-01210.3389/fpsyg.2011.0038413967From reference to sense: how the brain encodes meaning for speakingLaura eMenenti0Laura eMenenti1Karl Magnus ePetersson2Peter eHagoort3Peter eHagoort4University of GlasgowRadboud University NijmegenMax Planck Institute for PsycholinguisticsRadboud University NijmegenMax Planck Institute for PsycholinguisticsIn speaking, semantic encoding is the conversion of a nonverbal mental representation (the reference) into a semantic structure suitable for expression (the sense). In this fMRI study on sentence production we investigate how the speaking brain accomplishes this transition from nonverbal to verbal representations. In an overt picture description task, we manipulated repetition of sense (the semantic structure of the sentence) and reference (the described situation) separately. By investigating brain areas showing response adaptation to repetition of each of these sentence properties, we disentangle the neuronal infrastructure for these two components of semantic encoding. We also performed a control experiment with the same stimuli and design but without any linguistic task to identify areas involved in perception of the stimuli per se. The bilateral inferior parietal lobes were selectively sensitive to repetition of reference, while left inferior frontal gyrus showed selective suppression to repetition of sense. Strikingly, a widespread network of areas associated with language processing (left middle frontal gyrus, bilateral superior parietal lobes and bilateral posterior temporal gyri) all showed repetition suppression to both sense and reference processing. These areas are probably involved in mapping reference onto sense, the crucial step in semantic encoding. These results enable us to track the transition from nonverbal to verbal representations in our brains.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00384/fullfMRIfMRI adaptationsemanticssentence processingLanguage productionrepetition suppression |
| spellingShingle | Laura eMenenti Laura eMenenti Karl Magnus ePetersson Peter eHagoort Peter eHagoort From reference to sense: how the brain encodes meaning for speaking Frontiers in Psychology fMRI fMRI adaptation semantics sentence processing Language production repetition suppression |
| title | From reference to sense: how the brain encodes meaning for speaking |
| title_full | From reference to sense: how the brain encodes meaning for speaking |
| title_fullStr | From reference to sense: how the brain encodes meaning for speaking |
| title_full_unstemmed | From reference to sense: how the brain encodes meaning for speaking |
| title_short | From reference to sense: how the brain encodes meaning for speaking |
| title_sort | from reference to sense how the brain encodes meaning for speaking |
| topic | fMRI fMRI adaptation semantics sentence processing Language production repetition suppression |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00384/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lauraemenenti fromreferencetosensehowthebrainencodesmeaningforspeaking AT lauraemenenti fromreferencetosensehowthebrainencodesmeaningforspeaking AT karlmagnusepetersson fromreferencetosensehowthebrainencodesmeaningforspeaking AT peterehagoort fromreferencetosensehowthebrainencodesmeaningforspeaking AT peterehagoort fromreferencetosensehowthebrainencodesmeaningforspeaking |