After more than three decades of investigation, the nature and even the existence of the visual word form area (VWFA), a region in left ventrotemporal cortex (VTC), is still under debate. Here we provide novel insight on this debate by using precision fMRI to compare the VWFA to adjacent VTC regions, amodal language, and multiple-demand networks. We find that the VWFA is unique in its word-selectivity within VTC. The VWFA also uniquely shows auditory language-selectivity, but this language responsiveness is dwarfed by i) its visual-selectivity even to non-preferred stimuli and ii) language-selectivity of the language network. We additionally identify a region at the tip of the VTC which prefers auditory language to visual stimuli. Finally, almost all VTC fROIs are modulated by attention, not just the VWFA. We propose that the VWFA primarily operates as a visual look-up dictionary of orthographic information, presumably facilitated through connections with canonical language cortex.

Objective: Research examining the role of modifiable fitness variables in cognitive aging have been implemented in predominately White study samples. The present study aims to enhance the diversity of the literature by examining the relationship between modifiable physical fitness and cognition in Black older adults. Method: Metrics of modifiable fitness and cognition were assessed in 75 healthy Black older adults from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; ages 65–93 years, X- = 73.4, SD = 6.8). Hierarchical linear regressions were implemented to examine the relationship between a composite measure of modifiable physical fitness (gait speed, grip strength, maximum forced expiratory flow) and composite measures of executive function, episodic memory, and processing speed. Results: Modifiable physical fitness explained a significant amount of additional variance in executive function (p < 0.05) after controlling for age, sex, and education. Modifiable physical fitness was not associated with episodic memory or processing speed after controlling for demographic variables. Conclusions: Results suggest that these course metrics of physical fitness are associated specifically with executive function in Black older adults. These findings extend the current literature by exploring the relationship between modifiable physical fitness variables and cognition in Black older adults.