Fronto-temporal regions encode the manner of motion in spatial language

DOI

10.1016/j.neulet.2015.10.041

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

11-16-2015

Publication Title

Neuroscience Letters

Volume

609

First Page

171

Last Page

175

ISSN

3043940

Keywords

FMRI, Language, Manner, Posterior MTG, Spatial language

Abstract

When describing spatial events, dynamic actions can be decomposed into the path of motion (where the object moves), and the manner of motion (how the object moves). These components may be instantiated in two processing streams in the human brain, wherein dorsal parietal areas process path-related information, while ventral temporal regions process manner information. Previous research showed this pattern during the observation of videos showing animate characters in motion [15]. It is unknown whether reading language describing path and manner information - a level of abstraction beyond the perception of visual motion - relies on similar mechanisms. Here, we use functional neuroimaging to show that the left pMTG processes the manner of motion during reading. We also demonstrate the involvement of other ventral fronto-temporal regions in the understanding of manner of motion in spatial language.

Open Access

Green Accepted

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