Neural Correlates of Processing Passive Sentences

Abstract

Previous research has shown that comprehension of complex sentences involving wh-movement (e.g., object-relative clauses) elicits activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and left posterior temporal cortex. However, relatively little is known about the neural correlates of processing passive sentences, which differ from other complex sentences in terms of representation (i.e., noun phrase (NP)-movement) and processing (i.e., the time course of syntactic reanalysis). In the present study, 27 adults (14 younger and 13 older) listened to passive and active sentences and performed a sentence-picture verification task using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Passive sentences, relative to active sentences, elicited greater activation in bilateral IFG and left temporo-occipital regions. Participant age did not significantly affect patterns of activation. Consistent with previous research, activation in left temporo-occipital cortex likely reflects thematic reanalysis processes, whereas, activation in the left IFG supports processing of complex syntax (i.e., NP-movement). Right IFG activation may reflect syntactic reanalysis processing demands associated with the sentence-picture verification task.

Differences in grammatical processing strategies for active and passive sentences: An fMRI study

“…Moreover, left IFG, pSTG and MTG showed greater activation under the PS condition as compared to the AS condition. Our current IFG activation finding is consistent with the previous fMRI findings related to active and passive sentences (Hirotani et al, 2011;Mack et al, 2013;Yokoyama et al, 2006Yokoyama et al, , 2007. While many of the previous studies did not find activation of the pSTG during processing of passive sentences, others have found activation of the pSTG in studies focusing on syntactic processing (BenShachar et al, 2004;Bornkessel et al, 2005;Friederici & Kotz, 2003;Humphries et al, 2006;Kinno et al, 2008;Rogalsky & Hickok, 2009).…”

“…This example demonstrates the difference in grammatical processing between these two languages in terms of morphological changes. While previous studies have investigated active and passive sentences in aphasic patients Caplan & Hanna, 1998;Friederici & Graetz, 1987;Goodglass, Christiansen, & Gallagher, 1993;Kolk & Van Grunsven, 1985;Martin & Blossom-Stach, 1986;Menn et al, 1998;Saffran, Schwartz, & Marin, 1980) or methods such as electroencephalogram (EEG) or fMRI (Hirotani, Makuuchi, Rüschemeyer, & Friederici, 2011;Mack, Meltzer-Asscher, Barbieri, & Thompson, 2013;Newman, Lee, & Ratliff, 2009;Rogalsky & Hickok, 2009;Weber & Indefrey, 2009;Ye, Luo, Friederici, & Zhou, 2006;Yokoyama et al, 2006;, few studies have discussed differences in active and passive sentence processing between morphologically inflectional languages and languages lacking morphological inflections.…”

“…However, whether active and passive sentences require additional processing demand is still a matter of debate. To address this, several neuroimaging studies have used fMRI to explore active and passive sentence processing (Hirotani et al, 2011;Mack et al, 2013;Yokoyama et al, 2006Yokoyama et al, , 2007.…”

“…These results suggested that Broca's area may not be a specific area for passive sentence processing. In studies of English-monolinguals, Mack et al (2013) studied passive sentence processing in terms of WH-movement and NP-movement. Previous studies showed that WH-movement (who, what, when, where components e.g.…”

Effects of Working Memory Load and Age on the Comprehension of Passive Sentences

“…So far, there have been only a few attempts to address the comprehension of passive sentences among older adults. Mack et al (2013) investigated the neural basis of English passive sentence processing among 14 younger adults and 13 older adults. Subjects were required to complete a sentence picture verification task while their neutral activation activities were recorded using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.…”