Lexical competence includes both the ability to relate words to the external world as accessed through (mainly) visual perception (referential competence) and the ability to relate words to other words (inferential competence). We investigated the role of visual imagery in lexical inferential competence by using an auditory version of an inferential naming-to-definition task, in which visual imageability of both definitions and target words was manipulated. A visual imageability-related brain activity (bilateral posterior-parietal lobe and ventrotemporal cortex, including fusiform gyrus) was found during a “pure” inferential performance. The definition effect in high vs. low imageability contrast suggests that a visual-imagery strategy is spontaneously activated during the retrieval of a word from a high imageable definition; such an effect appears to be independent of whether the target word is high or low imageable. This contributes to the understanding of the neural correlates of semantic processing and the differential role of spontaneous visual imagery, depending on the semantic properties of the processed stimuli.

Imageability effect on the functional brain activity during a naming to definition task

Francesca Garbarini;Fabrizio Calzavarini;Matteo Diano;Carola Barbero;Daniele P. Radicioni;Giuliano Geminiani;Katiuscia Sacco;
2020-01-01

Abstract

Lexical competence includes both the ability to relate words to the external world as accessed through (mainly) visual perception (referential competence) and the ability to relate words to other words (inferential competence). We investigated the role of visual imagery in lexical inferential competence by using an auditory version of an inferential naming-to-definition task, in which visual imageability of both definitions and target words was manipulated. A visual imageability-related brain activity (bilateral posterior-parietal lobe and ventrotemporal cortex, including fusiform gyrus) was found during a “pure” inferential performance. The definition effect in high vs. low imageability contrast suggests that a visual-imagery strategy is spontaneously activated during the retrieval of a word from a high imageable definition; such an effect appears to be independent of whether the target word is high or low imageable. This contributes to the understanding of the neural correlates of semantic processing and the differential role of spontaneous visual imagery, depending on the semantic properties of the processed stimuli.
2020
137
3
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.107275
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), Lexical inferential competence, Visual imagery, Ventral temporal cortex, Posterior parietal lobe
Francesca Garbarini, Fabrizio Calzavarini, Matteo Diano, Monica Biggio, Carola Barbero, Daniele P. Radicioni, Giuliano Geminiani, Katiuscia Sacco, DiegoMarconi
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/1725799
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