An early stage of conceptual combination: Superimposition of constituent concepts in left anterolateral temporal lobe

Sean G. Baron, Sharon L. Thompson-Schill, Matthew Weber, Daniel Osherson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Conceptual combination is an essential cognitive process, yet little is known about its neural correlates. In the present study, a categorization task was used to evoke patterns of neural activation for complex concepts (e.g., young man) as well as their constituents (e.g., young, man). A functional region of interest (fROI) within left anterolateral temporal lobe was identified as a possible site of conceptual combination. In this region, the superimposition of activity for constituent concepts reliably predicted the activation pattern for the complex concept built from those constituents.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)44-51
Number of pages8
JournalCognitive Neuroscience
Volume1
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Cognitive Neuroscience

Keywords

  • Conceptual combination
  • FMRI
  • Face
  • Pattern analysis
  • Semantic

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