The role of left angular gyrus in the representation of linguistic composition relations

Abstract

Language comprehension is compositional: individual words are combined structurally to form larger meaning representations. The neural basis for compositionality is at the center of a growing body of recent research. Previous work has largely used univariate analysis to investigate the question, a technique that could potentially lead to the loss of fined-grained information due to the procedure of averaging over neural responses. In a functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment, the present study examined different types of composition relations in Chinese phrases, using a 1-back composition relation probe (CRP) task and a 1-back word probe (WP) task.We first analyzed the data using the multivariate representation similarity analysis, which better captures the fine-grained representational differences in the stimuli.The results showed that the left angular gyrus (AG) represents different types of composition relations in the CRP task, but no brain areas were identified in the WP task. We also conducted a traditional univariate analysis and found greater activations in the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus in the CRP task relative to the WP task.We discuss the methodological and theoretical implications of our findings in the context of the larger language neural network identified in previous studies. Our findings highlight the role of left AG in representing and distinguishing fine-grained linguistic composition relations.

Transcranial Photobiomodulation on the Left Prefrontal Cortex Enhances Mandarin Chinese L1 and L2 Complex Sentence Processing Performances

“…Moreover, syntactically-complex sentence processing is also accompanied with the difficulty of semantic interpretation, and given the comparatively coarse stimulation location of tPBM, the enhancement effect of sentence processing might be related to the facilitation of both syntactic and semantic processes. Although the present study treated the sentence processing as a holistic/unified process, future studies might employ jabberwocky sentences (e.g., Friederici et al, 2006a; Matchin et al, 2019; Zhang et al, 2022) or artificial grammars (e.g., Bahlmann et al, 2008; Chen et al, 2021a; Liu et al, 2023) to further differentiate these internal linguistic processes.…”

Functional priority of syntax over semantics in Chinese ‘ba’ construction: evidence from eye-tracking during natural reading

“…Finally, violated sentences may induce a domain-general process of executive control that is not related to syntactic or semantic processing. Future studies should consider using congruent phrases or sentences (Pylkkanen, 2019; Zhang et al, 2022) to examine the potential syntax-first model.…”

Articulation-Function-Associated Cortical Developmental Changes in Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate

“…These significant brain regions are in accordance with the cortical structure and brain functions in previous CLP and language process studies [ 14 , 25 , 30 ]. The angular gyrus is considered the language hub for modulation [ 31 ], primarily involved in language comprehension and phonological production [ 32 , 33 ]. The middle frontal gyrus is a well-known secondary language area [ 34 ] which engages in expressive language processes such as semantics [ 35 ], syntax and grammar [ 36 ], verbal fluency [ 37 ] and verbal working memory [ 38 ].…”