Context Predicts Word Order Processing in Broca's Region

Abstract

The function of the left inferior frontal gyrus (L-IFG) is highly disputed. A number of language processing studies have linked the region to the processing of syntactical structure. Still, there is little agreement when it comes to defining why linguistic structures differ in their effects on the L-IFG. In a number of languages, the processing of object-initial sentences affects the L-IFG more than the processing of subject-initial ones, but frequency and distribution differences may act as confounding variables. Syntactically complex structures (like the object-initial construction in Danish) are often less frequent and only viable in certain contexts. With this confound in mind, the L-IFG activation may be sensitive to other variables than a syntax manipulation on its own. The present fMRI study investigates the effect of a pragmatically appropriate context on the processing of subject-initial and object-initial clauses with the IFG as our ROI. We find that Danish object-initial clauses yield a higher BOLD response in L-IFG, but we also find an interaction between appropriateness of context and word order. This interaction overlaps with traditional syntax areas in the IFG. For object-initial clauses, the effect of an appropriate context is bigger than for subject-initial clauses. This result is supported by an acceptability study that shows that, given appropriate contexts, object-initial clauses are considered more appropriate than subject-initial clauses. The increased L-IFG activation for processing object-initial clauses without a supportive context may be interpreted as reflecting either reinterpretation or the recipients' failure to correctly predict word order from contextual cues.

Audio-visual combination of syllables involves time-sensitive dynamics following from fusion failure

“…Interestingly, this sensitivity did not translate into a misalignment sensation, confirming that this range of AV asynchrony is perceptually well tolerated 4 . These findings are consistent with previous studies 23,24,62 showing that the IFG is involved in implicit timing 22 , a sensitivity that allows listeners to predict word order from syntactic information 63 . Even though our brain is not aware of precise event temporality, the latter is essential to monitor e.g., articulatory and syntactic correctness, and to prepare for correct production.…”

Broca's region and Visual Word Form Area activation differ during a predictive Stroop task

“…One suggestion has been that activation in Broca's region reflects general linguistic processing costs (Kristensen & Wallentin, 2015), i.e., that whenever a linguistic process for some reason is difficult or challenged, it causes Broca's region to become more active. In support of this hypothesis are well-known findings that syntactic manipulations yield increased Broca's region activation (Ben-Shachar, Palti, & Grodzinsky, 2004;Christensen & Wallentin, 2011;Kristensen, Engberg-Pedersen, Nielsen, & Wallentin, 2013;Tettamanti et al, 2009) and findings showing that Broca's region responds to unpredicted word order, rather than syntactic manipulations per se, as defined by working memory demands (Fiebach, Schlesewsky, Lohmann, VonCramon, & Friederici, 2005;Wallentin, Roepstorff, Glover, & Burgess, 2006), cloze probability (Obleser & Kotz, 2010) or context (Kristensen, Engberg-Pedersen, & Wallentin, 2014). Broca's region activation is also routinely observed in the absence of word order manipulations (Fedorenko, Duncan, & Kanwisher, 2013;Novick et al, 2010).…”

“…At first glance this finding is difficult to reconcile with the literature. Previous experiments have indicated that Broca's region is indeed sensitive to certain types of frequency effects in linguistic experiments, such as word frequency (Fiebach et al, 2002;Kronbichler et al, 2004), sentence cloze probability (Obleser & Kotz, 2010) and contextual constraints on sentence structure (Kristensen et al, 2014). But these prediction violations all hinge on long-term exposure to linguistic material.…”

Grounding the neurobiology of language in first principles: The necessity of non-language-centric explanations for language comprehension

“…An example that shows the problem with this assumption and that specifically targets the influence of prior context on neural activation is an fMRI study of syntax by Kristensen, Engberg-Pedersen, and Wallentin (2014) . In that study, participants were presented with subject-initial sentences ( He noticed her ) and object-initial sentences ( Her, he noticed ).…”