Objects and their icons in the brain: the neural correlates of visual concept formation.
We are constantly exposed to symbols such as traffic signs, emoticons in internet communication, or other abstract representations of objects as well as, of course, the written words. However, aside from the word reading, little is known about the way our brain responds when we read non-lexical iconic symbols. By using functional MRI, we found that the watching of icons recruited manifold brain areas including frontal and parietal cortices in addition to the temporo-occipital junction in the ventral pathway. Remarkably, the brain response for icons was contrasted with the response for corresponding concrete objects with the pattern of 'hyper-cortical and hypo-subcortical' brain activation. This neural underpinning might be called the neural correlates for visual concept formation.
Shin
Yong-Wook
YW
Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Kwon
Jun Soo
JS
Kwon
Ki Won
KW
Gu
Bon Mi
BM
Song
In Chan
IC
Na
Dong Gyu
DG
Park
Sohee
S
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011932:Reading
D010100:Oxygen