Damage to temporoparietal cortex is sufficient for impaired semantic control

Thompson, Hannah E.; Noonan, Krist A.; Halai, Ajay D.; Hoffman, Paul; Stampacchia, Sara; Hallam, Glyn; Rice, Gillian; Pérez, Blanca De Dios; Ralph, Matthew A. Lambon; Jefferies, Elizabeth

doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2022.05.022

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…Considering that our study utilised EEG, which has very limited spatial resolution, we cannot discuss our findings in terms of anatomical regions (see Ovando‐Tellez et al, 2023). However, we can suggest that the effect is widespread and likely to involve a distributed network of regions which includes frontal, temporal, and posterior regions, as it is the case in semantic cognition (Jefferies, 2013; Noonan et al, 2013; Ralph et al, 2017), especially semantic control (Jackson, 2021; Thompson et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

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The role of alpha oscillations in free‐ and goal‐directed semantic associations

Zioga,

Kenett,

Giannopoulos

et al. 2024

Human Brain Mapping

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Alpha oscillations are known to play a central role in several higher‐order cognitive functions, especially selective attention, working memory, semantic memory, and creative thinking. Nonetheless, we still know very little about the role of alpha in the generation of more remote semantic associations, which is key to creative and semantic cognition. Furthermore, it remains unclear how these oscillations are shaped by the intention to “be creative,” which is the case in most creativity tasks. We aimed to address these gaps in two experiments. In Experiment 1, we compared alpha oscillatory activity (using a method which distinguishes genuine oscillatory activity from transient events) during the generation of free associations which were more vs. less distant from a given concept. In Experiment 2, we replicated these findings and also compared alpha oscillatory activity when people were generating free associations versus associations with the instruction to be creative (i.e. goal‐directed). We found that alpha was consistently higher during the generation of more distant semantic associations, in both experiments. This effect was widespread, involving areas in both left and right hemispheres. Importantly, the instruction to be creative seems to increase alpha phase synchronisation from left to right temporal brain areas, suggesting that intention to be creative changed the flux of information in the brain, likely reflecting an increase in top‐down control of semantic search processes. We conclude that goal‐directed generation of remote associations relies on top‐down mechanisms compared to when associations are freely generated.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…However, we can suggest that the effect is widespread and likely to involve a distributed network of regions which includes frontal, temporal, and posterior regions, as it is the case in semantic cognition (Jefferies, 2013;Noonan et al, 2013;Ralph et al, 2017), especially semantic control (Jackson, 2021;Thompson et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

The role of alpha oscillations in free‐ and goal‐directed semantic associations

Zioga,

Kenett,

Giannopoulos

et al. 2024

Human Brain Mapping

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In keeping with these results, the second possible explanation is that these regions (along with PFC) support semantic control (Jackson et al, 2021; Jackson, 2021; Lambon Ralph et al, 2017); a conclusion supported by convergent evidence from fMRI, rTMS and neuropsychology (Hallam et al, 2016; Jefferies, 2013; Whiteney et al, 2011; 2012). In fact, patients with damage to these brain regions not only show multimodal semantic control deficits (semantic aphasia: Jefferies & Lambon Ralph, 2006; Jefferies et al, 2008; Noonan et al, 2013; Thompson et al, 2022) but also present with ideational apraxia (Corbett et al, 2009a, 2009b; 2011; 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distributed and convergent representations of tools in human parietal and anterior temporal regions revealed by fMRI-RSA

Ishibashi,

Humphreys,

Halai

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Classical models of tool knowledge and use are centred on dorsal and ventral parietal pathways. Theories of semantic cognition implicate a 'hub-and-spoke' network, centred on the anterior temporal lobe (ATL), that underpins all concepts including tools. Despite their prominence, the two theoretical frameworks have never been brought together and the large discrepancy in the functional neuroanatomy addressed. We undertook a multiple-regression Representational Similarity Analysis (RSA) of task fMRI data with four (motor action, broad function, mechanical function, object structure) feature-based models. The motor action model correlated with the activation patterns in bilateral superior parietal lobules (SPL), while the models of broad function and mechanical effect aligned with the activation patterns in bilateral ATLs. The object-structure model correlated with activation patterns in bilateral middle occipital gyri. The results also showed that the ventral ATL activation patterns corresponded simultaneously with all RDM models except object structure. Furthermore, a standard univariate analysis using tool-familiarity ratings for parametric modulation revealed that the classical tool-network regions (frontal, inferior parietal, and posterior middle temporal cortices) were increasingly active as the tool familiarity reduced. These results demonstrate that parietal and ATL regions are both crucial, and motivate a major extension and revision of the neuroanatomical framework for tool use.

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“…People with semantic aphasia have difficulty regulating semantic cognition across verbal and non-verbal tasks in different contexts (e.g., resolving lexical ambiguity in the context of distractors). Semantic aphasia is typically associated with left hemisphere cerebrovascular accidents impacting frontoparietal and/or posterior temporal lobe regions (Thompson et al, 2022).…”

Section: Semantic Control Definitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What We Mean When We Say Semantic: A multidiscilpinary semantic glossary

Reilly,

Shain,

Borghesani

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Tulving (1972) characterized semantic memory as a vast repository of meaning that provides a substrate for language and many other cognitive processes. Tulving’s perspective resulted in a paradigm shift in the study of human conceptual knowledge. The study of semantic memory since evolved as a multidisciplinary endeavor advanced by fields with their own entrenched theoretical perspectives and idiosyncratic lexicons (e.g., concept has different connotations in philosophy vs. cognitive psychology). Yet, no uniform nomenclature exists for translating results and aligning theories across disparate fields. Core semantic constructs remain underspecified to an extent that falsifiability and incremental theory-building remain elusive. One consequence of these limitations is that similar arguments about semantic phenomena are continually recycled with no resolution in sight. The aim of this multidisciplinary workgroup (N=53) was to establish consensus definitions for some of the major recurring constructs in semantic research (e.g., concept, amodal, abstract). These efforts yielded a glossary consisting of succinct definitions, agreement and subjective confidence ratings, relevant theoretical background, and principled dissenting views. These core definitions will potentially yield benchmarks for aligning perspectives in semantic research.

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Damage to temporoparietal cortex is sufficient for impaired semantic control

Cited by 8 publications

References 88 publications

The role of alpha oscillations in free‐ and goal‐directed semantic associations

The role of alpha oscillations in free‐ and goal‐directed semantic associations

Distributed and convergent representations of tools in human parietal and anterior temporal regions revealed by fMRI-RSA

What We Mean When We Say Semantic: A multidiscilpinary semantic glossary

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