It
is thought that the meanings of words and language are represented in a
semantic system distributed across much of the cerebral cortex.
However, little is known about the detailed functional and anatomical
organization of this network. Alex Huth, Jack Gallant and colleagues set
out to map the functional representations of semantic meaning in the
human brain using voxel-based modelling of functional magnetic resonance
imaging (fMRI) recordings made while subjects listened to natural
narrative speech. They find that each semantic concept is represented in
multiple semantic areas, and each semantic area represents multiple
semantic concepts. The recovered semantic maps are largely consistent
across subjects, however, providing the basis for a semantic atlas that
can be used for future studies of language processing.
An interactive
version of the atlas can be explored at
http://gallantlab.org/huth2016
Where exactly are the words in your head? Scientists have created an
interactive map showing which brain areas respond to hearing different
words. The map reveals how language is spread throughout the cortex and
across both hemispheres, showing groups of words clustered together by
meaning. The beautiful interactive model allows us to explore the
complex organization of the enormous dictionaries in our heads.
Explore the brain model for yourself here: http://gallantlab.org/huth2016
Read the paper here: http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.10...
28th April 2016
No comments:
Post a Comment