M5, T3, Neuroanatomy of semantics

Question 1

Neuroanatomy of semantic memory

Answer 1

• Semantic processing involves higher order cortices and primary and secondary perceptual and motor areas
• Dissociations suggest that certain brain areas appear to encode preferentially specific semantic categories and/or specific kinds of features
• General and pervasive semantic deficits are evident with lesions affecting mainly the anterior temporal lobe
• Far from finding the answer to the “location” of the neural location of semantic representation

Question 2

Patients with deficits for living things have damage to - brain

Answer 2

• Anterior Left Ventral Temporal Cortex
• Left And Right Temporal Lobe
• Some cases right or left temporal lobe only
• Damage to frontal and inferior parietal areas
• Widespread brain damage

Question 3

Patients with deficits for artefacts have damage to - brain

Answer 3

• Left Temporal Lobe And Basal Ganglia
• Left Temporal Lobe
• Left Frontal And Inferior Parietal Areas
• Left Sylvian Fissure
• Left Posterior Middle Temporal Gyrus

Question 4

Imaging evidence, living things/animals

Answer 4

• Inferior Temporal Lobe (bilateral or left hemisphere)
• Superior Temporal Sulcus (animals)
• Bilateral Occipital Lobes
• Lateral Fusiform Gyrus (animals)

Question 5

Imaging evidence, non-living things

Answer 5

• Posterior middle (e.g., tools) and inferior temporal gyri
• Fusiform gyri of temporal lobes (tools) and left inferior frontal region
• Lingual, parahippocampal gyri, middle occipital gyrus and dorsolateral frontal regions

Question 6

Semantic processing imaging studies meta analysis results

Answer 6

• Mainly Left Hemisphere (Right Hemisphere activation similar locations but less extensive)
• Angular Gyrus
• Fusiform Gyrus
• Inferior Frontal Gyrus
• Middle Temporal Gyrus
• Posterior Cingulate Gyrus
• Superior Frontal Gyrus (dorsomedial prefrontal cortex)
• Supramarginal Gyrus
• Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex
• Precuneus

Question 7

Possible neuroanatomical account of semantic system, anterior temporal cortex approach

Answer 7

• Anterior temporal cortex is the neural substrate of an amodal conceptual representation/store of knowledge
• Motor and sensory systems provide input and output to this store
• anterior cortex is the semantic store

Question 8

Possible neuroanatomical account of semantic system, conceptual knowledge in sensory and motor areas approach

Answer 8

• Conceptual knowledge is represented in sensory and motor areas
• Anterior temporal cortex facilitates and influences conceptual processing in sensory and motor areas
• Anterior temporal cortex does not store conceptual knowledge
• anterior cortex facilitates, it is a hub for activity, ‘combination area’