title: Dissociating the semantic function of two neighbouring subregions in the left lateral anterior temporal lobe.
abstract: We used fMRI in 35 healthy participants to investigate how two neighbouring subregions in the lateral anterior temporal lobe (LATL) contribute to semantic matching and object naming. Four different levels of processing were considered: (A) recognition of the object concepts; (B) search for semantic associations related to object stimuli; (C) retrieval of semantic concepts of interest; and (D) retrieval of stimulus specific concepts as required for naming. During semantic association matching on picture stimuli or heard object names, we found that activation in both subregions was higher when the objects were semantically related (mug-kettle) than unrelated (car-teapot). This is consistent with both LATL subregions playing a role in (C), the successful retrieval of amodal semantic concepts. In addition, one subregion was more activated for object naming than matching semantically related objects, consistent with (D), the retrieval of a specific concept for naming. We discuss the implications of these novel findings for cognitive models of semantic processing and left anterior temporal lobe function.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom; Neuropsychology and Functional Imaging Group, Departamento de Psicología Básica, Clínica y Psicobiología, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain. Electronic address: anatsanjuan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanjuán
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Thomas M H
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Hope
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom; Wolfson College, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6UD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: 'Ōiwi Parker
authors.initials: 'P
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prejawa
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oberhuber
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guerin
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mohamed L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Seghier
authors.affiliation: Experimental Psychology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Cathy J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D012660:Semantics; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Anterior temporal lobe; Naming; Semantic memory; fMRI