Modelling the Meaning of Words: Neural Correlates of Abstract and Concrete Noun Processing
-
1
Malmö University Hospital , Department of Neurology, Sweden
-
2
University of Lund, Dept. of Linguistics and Phonetics, Centre for Languages and Literature, Sweden
We outline a proposal to relate modelling of word meaning in terms of semantic features and frames to a general hierarchical model of neurocognitive processing [1]. The model assumes that concrete features are processed in low-level, posterior sensory networks, whereas abstract conceptualization involves integration of frame-based information, making it more dependent on higher cognitive functions orchestrated by frontal networks. Episodic memory networks are suggested to be at an intermediate level,
i.e. more concrete than general semantic frames, but less concrete than sensory-based information. A word association test was used to investigate the processing of concrete and abstract nouns. Speakers with stroke-related aphasia due to anterior and posterior lesions and healthy controls participated. Assuming visual memory networks to be important for concrete noun processing, left occipital lesions were hypothesized to impair the interpretation of concrete words. Lesions affecting left anterior areas were expected to give rise to the reverse pattern due to difficulties in accessing general semantic frames. Results supported the hypotheses. Compared with controls, anterior aphasic subjects produced fewer semantic frame-based associations, but more associations based on episodic memories and sensory feature similarity. In contrast, occipital lesions implicated fewer associations based on sensory features but more on semantic frames.
References
1. Fuster. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 2009, 21, 2047-2072
Conference:
The 20th Annual Rotman Research Institute Conference, The frontal lobes, Toronto, Canada, 22 Mar - 26 Mar, 2010.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Cognitive Neuroscience
Citation:
Apt
P,
Horne
M,
Mårtensson
F and
Roll
M
(2010). Modelling the Meaning of Words: Neural Correlates of Abstract and Concrete Noun Processing.
Conference Abstract:
The 20th Annual Rotman Research Institute Conference, The frontal lobes.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.14.00113
Copyright:
The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers.
They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters.
The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated.
Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed.
For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions.
Received:
29 Jun 2010;
Published Online:
29 Jun 2010.
*
Correspondence:
F. Mårtensson, University of Lund, Dept. of Linguistics and Phonetics, Centre for Languages and Literature, Lund, Sweden, frida.martensson@gmail.com