title: Concept typicality responses in the semantic memory network.
abstract: For decades concept typicality has been recognized as critical to structuring conceptual knowledge, but only recently has typicality been applied in better understanding the processes engaged by the neurological network underlying semantic memory. This previous work has focused on one region within the network - the Anterior Temporal Lobe (ATL). The ATL responds negatively to concept typicality (i.e., the more atypical the item, the greater the activation in the ATL). To better understand the role of typicality in the entire network, we ran an fMRI study using a category verification task in which concept typicality was manipulated parametrically. We argue that typicality is relevant to both amodal feature integration centers as well as category-specific regions. Both the Inferior Frontal Gyrus (IFG) and ATL demonstrated a negative correlation with typicality, whereas inferior parietal regions showed positive effects. We interpret this in light of functional theories of these regions. Interactions between category and typicality were not observed in regions classically recognized as category-specific, thus, providing an argument against category specific regions, at least with fMRI.
authors: Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Psicologia, 1649-013 Lisboa, Portugal; University College London, Department of Linguistics, WC1N 1PF England, UK. Electronic address: a.santi@ucl.ac.uk.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Santi
authors: Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Psicologia, 1649-013 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Raposo
authors: Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Psicologia, 1649-013 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors: Sofia
authors: S
authors: Frade
authors: Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Psicologia, 1649-013 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors: J Frederico
authors: JF
authors: Marques
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time; D012660:Semantics; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Concepts; Semantic memory; Typicality; fMRI