Cortical oscillations underlying morphological processing: an MEG/EEG study
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1
University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
The present study aims at linking the computational structure of language and the neural circuitry that implements language processing. Linguistic complexity engages primarily left lateralised processes, whereas general processing complexity - as indexed by lexical competition - engages a more bilateral network (Bozic et al., 2010). To track the functional role of these systems we investigate cortical oscillations synchrony in a combined magneto-encephalography (MEG) event-related potentials (ERPs) auditory study. Participants listened to lists of words that varied on these two core processing dimensions and occasionally performed a 1-back memory task. Linguistic processing complexity was manipulated by the presence of a potential inflectional morpheme (played, trade). General processing complexity was engaged by the presence of onset-embedded lexical competitors (claim, hump). Phase-locking values (PLV; Lachaux et al., 1999) of source estimates (MNE, Hämäläinen et al., 1993) were computed to determine trial-by-trial covariance between the left posterior superior temporal gyrus (LpSTG) and temporal and frontal regions. Results time locked to the onset of an inflectional morpheme revealed that phase synchrony increased in the gamma-band (30-50 Hz) between LpSTG and left pars opercularis (BA44). In contrast, processing an onset-embedded competitor induced synchrony in a network linking the LpSTG and left anterior inferior temporal gyrus. These findings suggest that enhanced cross-cortical interactions between left temporo-frontal areas are necessary for morpho-syntactic computations. Synchronisation in oscillatory dynamics reflects the transient coupling of functional networks related to specific computational process in language comprehension.
Keywords:
EEG,
Language,
MEG
Conference:
XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI), Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 25 Sep - 29 Sep, 2011.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Poster Sessions: Neural Bases of Language
Citation:
Fonteneau
E,
Bozic
M and
Marslen-Wilson
W
(2011). Cortical oscillations underlying morphological processing: an MEG/EEG study.
Conference Abstract:
XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI).
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2011.207.00194
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Received:
21 Nov 2011;
Published Online:
28 Nov 2011.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Elisabeth Fonteneau, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom, elisabeth.fonteneau@univ-montp3.fr