scholarly journals Interwoven functionality of the brain’s action and language systems

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Véronique Boulenger ◽  
Tatjana A. Nazir
Keyword(s):  
Word Meaning ◽  
Masked Priming ◽  
Action Perception ◽  
Semantic Retrieval ◽  
Motor Action ◽  
Electrophysiological Studies ◽  
Neuroimaging Study ◽  
Action Verbs ◽  
The Brain

Theories of embodied cognition consider language understanding as intimately linked to sensory and motor processes. Here we review evidence from kinematic and electrophysiological studies for the idea that processing of words referring to bodily actions, even when subliminally presented, recruits the same motor regions that are involved in motor control. We further discuss the functional role of the motor system in action word retrieval in light of neuropsychological data showing modulation of masked priming effects for action verbs in Parkinson’s patients as a function of dopaminergic treatment. Finally, a neuroimaging study revealing semantic somatotopy in the motor cortex during reading of idioms that include action words is presented. Altogether these findings provide strong arguments that semantic mechanisms are grounded in action-perception systems of the brain. They support the existence of common brain signatures to action words, even when embedded in idiomatic sentences, and motor action. They further suggest that motor schemata reflecting word meaning contribute to lexico-semantic retrieval of action words.

scholarly journals When the Action to Be Performed at the Stage of Retrieval Enacts Memory of Action Verbs

2021 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-31
Author(s):  
Thibaut Brouillet ◽  
Arthur-Henri Michalland ◽  
Sophie Martin ◽  
Denis Brouillet
Keyword(s):  
Memory Performance ◽  
Recognition Task ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Cued Recall ◽  
Motor Action ◽  
Real Objects ◽  
Verb Processing ◽  
Action Verbs ◽  
The Brain

Abstract. According to the embodied approach of language, concepts are grounded in sensorimotor mental states, and when we process language, the brain simulates some of the perceptions and actions that are involved when interacting with real objects. Moreover, several studies have highlighted that cognitive performances are dependent on the overlap between the motor action simulated and the motor action required by the task. On the other hand, in the field of memory, the role of action is under debate. The aim of this work was to show that performing an action at the stage of retrieval influences memory performance in a recognition task (experiment 1) and a cued recall task (experiment 2), even if the participants were never instructed to consider the implied action. The results highlighted an action-based memory effect at the retrieval stage. These findings contribute to the debate about the implication of motor system in action verb processing and its role for memory.

scholarly journals Imaging Implicit Morphological Processing: Evidence from Hebrew

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 1955-1969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atira S. Bick ◽  
Ram Frost ◽  
Gadi Goelman
Keyword(s):  
Masked Priming ◽  
Statistical Correlation ◽  
Morphological Processing ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Semantic Transparency ◽  
Lexical Structure ◽  
The Neural Networks ◽  
Distinct Aspect ◽  
The Brain

Is morphology a discrete and independent element of lexical structure or does it simply reflect a fine-tuning of the system to the statistical correlation that exists among orthographic and semantic properties of words? Hebrew provides a unique opportunity to examine morphological processing in the brain because of its rich morphological system. In an fMRI masked priming experiment, we investigated the neural networks involved in implicit morphological processing in Hebrew. In the lMFG and lIFG, activation was found to be significantly reduced when the primes were morphologically related to the targets. This effect was not influenced by the semantic transparency of the morphological prime, and was not found in the semantic or orthographic condition. Additional morphologically related decrease in activation was found in the lIPL, where activation was significantly modulated by semantic transparency. Our findings regarding implicit morphological processing suggest that morphology is an automatic and distinct aspect of visually processing words. These results also coincide with the behavioral data previously obtained demonstrating the central role of morphological processing in reading Hebrew.

scholarly journals Dissociable electrophysiological correlates of semantic access of motor and non-motor concepts

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodika Sokoliuk ◽  
Sara Calzolari ◽  
Damian Cruse
Keyword(s):  
Premotor Cortex ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Specific Role ◽  
Cortical Activation ◽  
Motor Action ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Action Verbs ◽  
Healthy Participants

AbstractThe notion of semantic embodiment posits that concepts are represented in the same neural sensorimotor systems that were involved in their acquisition. However, evidence in support of embodied semantics – in particular the hypothesised contribution of motor and premotor cortex to the representation of action concepts – is varied. Here, we tested the hypothesis that, consistent with semantic embodiment, sensorimotor cortices will rapidly become active while healthy participants access the meaning of visually-presented motor and non-motor action verbs. Event-related potentials revealed early differential processing of motor and non-motor verbs (164-203ms) within distinct regions of cortex likely reflecting rapid cortical activation of differentially distributed semantic representations. However, we found no evidence for a specific role of sensorimotor cortices in supporting these representations. Moreover, we observed a later modulation of the alpha band (8-12Hz) from 555-785ms over central electrodes, with estimated generators within the left superior parietal lobule, which may reflect post-lexical activation of the object-directed features of the motor action concepts. In conclusion, we find no evidence for a specific role of sensorimotor cortices when healthy participants judge the meaning of visually-presented action verbs. However, the relative contribution of sensorimotor cortices to action comprehension may vary as a function of task goals.

The Role of Mitochondria in the Genesis of Neuroaxonal Dystrophy in the Brains of Aging Mice

1975 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 372-373
Author(s):  
J.E. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Light And Electron Microscopy ◽  
Dorsal Column ◽  
Neuroaxonal Dystrophy ◽  
Nucleus Gracilis ◽  
Dystrophic Axons ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Nucleus Cuneatus

Although neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD) has been examined by light and electron microscopy for years, the nature of the components in the dystrophic axons is not well understood. The present report examines nucleus gracilis and cuneatus (the dorsal column nuclei) in the brain stem of aging mice.Mice (C57BL/6J) were sacrificed by aldehyde perfusion at ages ranging from 3 months to 23 months. Several brain areas and parts of other organs were processed for electron microscopy.At 3 months of age, very little evidence of NAD can be discerned by light microscopy. At the EM level, a few axons are found to contain dystrophic material. By 23 months of age, the entire nucleus gracilis is filled with dystrophic axons. Much less NAD is seen in nucleus cuneatus by comparison. The most recurrent pattern of NAD is an enlarged profile, in the center of which is a mass of reticulated material (reticulated portion; or RP).

Fibrinolytic Activity of Cerebro-Spinal Fluid and the Development of Artificial Cerebral Haematomas in Dogs

1969 ◽  
Vol 21 (02) ◽  
pp. 294-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Mihara ◽  
T Fujii ◽  
S Okamoto
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Carboxylic Acid ◽  
Fibrinolytic Activity ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Trans Form ◽  
Plate Method ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Fibrin Plate ◽  
The Brain

SummaryBlood was injected into the brains of dogs to produce artificial haematomas, and paraffin injected to produce intracerebral paraffin masses. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood samples were withdrawn at regular intervals and their fibrinolytic activities estimated by the fibrin plate method. Trans-form aminomethylcyclohexane-carboxylic acid (t-AMCHA) was administered to some individuals. Genera] relationships were found between changes in CSF fibrinolytic activity, area of tissue damage and survival time. t-AMCHA was clearly beneficial to those animals given a programme of administration. Tissue activator was extracted from the brain tissue after death or sacrifice for haematoma examination. The possible role of tissue activator in relation to haematoma development, and clinical implications of the results, are discussed.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum: novel concept of pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of Devic’s disease

2009 ◽  
Vol 150 (46) ◽  
pp. 2101-2109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Péter Csécsei ◽  
Anita Trauninger ◽  
Sámuel Komoly ◽  
Zsolt Illés
Keyword(s):  
Neuromyelitis Optica ◽  
Water Channel ◽  
Diagnostic Procedures ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Permanent Disability ◽  
Therapeutic Decisions ◽  
Novel Concept ◽  
The Brain

The identification of autoantibodies generated against the brain isoform water channel aquaporin4 in the sera of patients, changed the current diagnostic guidelines and concept of neuromyelitis optica (NMO). In a number of cases, clinical manifestation is spatially limited to myelitis or relapsing optic neuritis creating a diverse. NMO spectrum. Since prevention of relapses provides the only possibility to reduce permanent disability, early diagnosis and treatment is mandatory. In the present study, we discuss the potential role of neuroimaging and laboratory tests in differentiating the NMO spectrum from other diseases, as well as the diagnostic procedures and therapeutic options. We also present clinical cases, to provide examples of different clinical settings, diagnostic procedures and therapeutic decisions.

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