title: Combinatorial semantics strengthens angular-anterior temporal coupling.
abstract: The human semantic combinatorial system allows us to create a wide number of new meanings from a finite number of existing representations. The present study investigates the neural dynamics underlying the semantic processing of different conceptual constructions based on predictions from previous neuroanatomical models of the semantic processing network. In two experiments, participants read sentences for comprehension containing noun-adjective pairs in three different conditions: prototypical (Redundant), nonsense (Anomalous) and low-typical but composable (Contrastive). In Experiment 1 we examined the processing costs associated to reading these sentences and found a processing dissociation between Anomalous and Contrastive word pairs, compared to prototypical (Redundant) stimuli. In Experiment 2, functional connectivity results showed strong co-activation across conditions between inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and posterior middle temporal gyrus (MTG), as well as between these two regions and middle frontal gyrus (MFG), anterior temporal cortex (ATC) and fusiform gyrus (FG), consistent with previous neuroanatomical models. Importantly, processing of low-typical (but composable) meanings relative to prototypical and anomalous constructions was associated with a stronger positive coupling between ATC and angular gyrus (AG). Our results underscore the critical role of IFG-MTG co-activation during semantic processing and how other relevant nodes within the semantic processing network come into play to handle visual-orthographic information, to maintain multiple lexical-semantic representations in working memory and to combine existing representations while creatively constructing meaning.
authors: Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL), Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain. Electronic address: n.molinaro@bcbl.eu.
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Molinaro
authors: Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL), Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain. Electronic address: p.pazalonso@bcbl.eu.
authors: Pedro M
authors: PM
authors: Paz-Alonso
authors: Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL), Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain. Electronic address: j.dunabeitia@bcbl.eu.
authors: Jon Andoni
authors: JA
authors: Duñabeitia
authors: Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL), Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain; Department of Basque Language and Communication, EHU/UPV, Bilbao, Spain. Electronic address: m.carreiras@bcbl.eu.
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Carreiras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011932:Reading; D012660:Semantics; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Angular gyrus; Anterior temporal cortex; Functional connectivity; Semantic composition; fMRI