Large, colourful or noisy? Attribute- and modality-specific activations during retrieval of perceptual attribute knowledge

Kellenbach, Marion L.; Brett, Matthew; Patterson, Karalyn

doi:10.1016/s1053-8119(01)92034-8

Cited by 11 publications

(17 citation statements)

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“…There is now strong evidence not only for a fairly specialized colour perception network in the human brain (Bartels & Zeki, 2000;Beauchamp, Haxby, Jennings, & DeYoe, 1999), but also for activation in or near this processor by concepts with colour content (Hsu, Frankland, & Thompson-Schill, 2012;Hsu, Kraemer, Oliver, Schlichting, & Thompson-Schill, 2011;Kellenbach, Brett, & Patterson, 2001;Martin, Haxby, Lalonde, Wiggs, & Ungerleider, 1995;Simmons et al, 2007). The question of whether there are distinguishable neural processors activated by particular colour concepts (e.g., red vs. green vs. blue) has not been studied, but this appears unlikely.…”

Section: Visual Componentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward a brain-based componential semantic representation

Binder

Conant

Humphries

et al. 2016

Cognitive Neuropsychology

260

369

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Componential theories of lexical semantics assume that concepts can be represented by sets of features or attributes that are in some sense primitive or basic components of meaning. The binary features used in classical category and prototype theories are problematic in that these features are themselves complex concepts, leaving open the question of what constitutes a primitive feature. The present availability of brain imaging tools has enhanced interest in how concepts are represented in brains, and accumulating evidence supports the claim that these representations are at least partly "embodied" in the perception, action, and other modal neural systems through which concepts are experienced. In this study we explore the possibility of devising a componential model of semantic representation based entirely on such functional divisions in the human brain. We propose a basic set of approximately 65 experiential attributes based on neurobiological considerations, comprising sensory, motor, spatial, temporal, affective, social, and cognitive experiences. We provide normative data on the salience of each attribute for a large set of English nouns, verbs, and adjectives, and show how these attribute vectors distinguish a priori conceptual categories and capture semantic similarity. Robust quantitative differences between concrete object categories were observed across a large number of attribute dimensions. A within- versus between-category similarity metric showed much greater separation between categories than representations derived from distributional (latent semantic) analysis of text. Cluster analyses were used to explore the similarity structure in the data independent of a priori labels, revealing several novel category distinctions. We discuss how such a representation might deal with various longstanding problems in semantic theory, such as feature selection and weighting, representation of abstract concepts, effects of context on semantic retrieval, and conceptual combination. In contrast to componential models based on verbal features, the proposed representation systematically relates semantic content to large-scale brain networks and biologically plausible accounts of concept acquisition.

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Section: Visual Componentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward a brain-based componential semantic representation

Binder

Conant

Humphries

et al. 2016

Cognitive Neuropsychology

260

369

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“…Semantic information in the brain is represented at several levels, ranging from combinations of sensorimotor features [12], [13], through amodal concepts [14], [15], to semantic categories [16], [17]. Considerable evidence now supports the idea that semantic processing involves several cortical functional networks that process and integrate information at all these levels [18], [19], [20], [13].…”

Section: The Idea Generation Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of relevant and irrelevant primes on idea generation: A computational model

Iyer

Minai

Brown

et al. 2009

2009 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks

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Abstract-Brainstorming is the process of generating ideas in a specific task or problem context. We have previously presented a connectionist framework to study the dynamics of idea generation in individuals. In this paper, we develop this model further, and apply it to studying qualitatively the effects of priming on the process of ideation. Motivated by experimental data from a previous study, we explore the differential effects of relevant and irrelevant primes on productivity of idea generation in specific problem/task contexts. Simulations using our model suggest that even irrelevant primes can provide a modest productivity boost in contexts that are familiar or are similar to familiar contexts, but no benefit when the context is unfamiliar. We propose possible explanations for these results and make predictions for future experiments.

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“…For example, animals have important biological functions, such as running, breathing, eating, and so on, that are central to our conceptual knowledge of this domain (see , for a discussion), but which tend to be overlooked in analyses of their properties. Finally, recent neuroimaging studies have shown no consistent differences in cortical activation as a function of sensory or functional properties (Devlin et al 2002b;Kellenbach, Brett, & Patterson, 2001;Moore & Price, 1999;Perani, Schnur, Tettamanti, Gorno-Tempini, Cappa, & Fazio, 1999;Spitzer et al, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Do Semantic Categories Activate Distinct Cortical Regions? Evidence for a Distributed Neural Semantic System

Tyler

Bright

Dick

et al. 2003

Cognitive Neuropsychology

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A key issue in cognitive neuroscience concerns the neural representation of conceptual knowledge. Currently, debate focuses around the issue of whether there are neural regions specialised for the processing of specific semantic attributes or categories, or whether concepts are represented in an undifferentiated neural system. Neuropsychological studies of patients with selective semantic deficits and previous neuroimaging studies do not unequivocally support either account. We carried out a PET study to determine whether there is any regional specialisation for the processing of concepts from different semantic categories using picture stimuli and a semantic categorisation task. We found robust activation of a large semantic network extending from left inferior frontal cortex into the inferior temporal lobe and including occipital cortex and the fusiform gyrus. The only category effect that we found was additional activation for animals in the right occipital cortex, which we interpret as being due to the extra visual processing demands required in order to differentiate one animal from another. We also carried out analyses in specific cortical regions that have been claimed to be preferentially activated for various categories, but found no evidence of any differential activation as a function of category. We interpret these data within the framework of cognitive accounts in which conceptual knowledge is represented within a nondifferentiated distributed system.

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Large, colourful or noisy? Attribute- and modality-specific activations during retrieval of perceptual attribute knowledge

Cited by 11 publications

References 0 publications

Toward a brain-based componential semantic representation

Toward a brain-based componential semantic representation

Effects of relevant and irrelevant primes on idea generation: A computational model

Do Semantic Categories Activate Distinct Cortical Regions? Evidence for a Distributed Neural Semantic System

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