Semantic Grounding of Novel Spoken Words in the Primary Visual Cortex.

ABSTRACT: Embodied theories of grounded semantics postulate that, when word meaning is first acquired, a link is established between symbol (word form) and corresponding semantic information present in modality-specific-including primary-sensorimotor cortices of the brain. Direct experimental evidence documenting the emergence of such a link (i.e., showing that presentation of a previously unknown, meaningless word sound induces, after learning, category-specific reactivation of relevant primary sensory or motor brain areas), however, is still missing. Here, we present new neuroimaging results that provide such evidence. We taught participants aspects of the referential meaning of previously unknown, senseless novel spoken words (such as "Shruba" or "Flipe") by associating them with either a familia

SUBMITTER: Garagnani M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7959837 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature