title: Individual differences in white matter microstructure predict semantic control.
abstract: In everyday conversation, we make many rapid choices between competing concepts and words in order to convey our intent. This process is termed semantic control, and it is thought to rely on information transmission between a distributed semantic store in the temporal lobes and a more discrete region, optimized for retrieval and selection, in the left inferior frontal gyrus. Here, we used diffusion tensor imaging in a group of neurologically normal young adults to investigate the relationship between semantic control and white matter tracts that have been implicated in semantic memory retrieval. Participants completed a verb generation task that taps semantic control (Snyder & Munakata, 2008; Snyder et al., 2010) and underwent a diffusion imaging scan. Deterministic tractography was performed to compute indices representing the microstructural properties of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), the uncinate fasciculus (UF), and the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF). Microstructural measures of the UF failed to predict semantic control performance. However, there was a significant relationship between microstructure of the left IFOF and ILF and individual differences in semantic control. Our findings support the view put forth by Duffau (2013) that the IFOF is a key structural pathway in semantic retrieval.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Temple University, 1701 N. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA.
authors.forename: Tehila
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nugiel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Temple University, 1701 N. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA.
authors.forename: Kylie H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Alm
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Temple University, 1701 N. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA. iolson@temple.edu.
authors.forename: Ingrid R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Olson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007360:Intelligence; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011930:Reaction Time; D012660:Semantics; D013060:Speech; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Broca’s area; Cognitive control; Lexical access; Semantic memory; Structural connectivity; White matter