Distinct spatiotemporal patterns of syntactic and semantic processing in human inferior frontal gyrus.
Nat Hum Behav
; 6(8): 1104-1111, 2022 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35618778
ABSTRACT
Human languages are based on syntax, a set of rules which allow an infinite number of meaningful sentences to be constructed from a finite set of words. A theory associated with Chomsky and others holds that syntax is a mind-internal, universal structure independent of semantics. This theory, however, has been challenged by studies of the Chinese language showing that syntax is processed under the semantic umbrella, and is secondary and not independent. Here, using intracranial high-density electrocorticography, we find distinct spatiotemporal patterns of neural activity in the left inferior frontal gyrus that are specifically associated with syntactic and semantic processing of Chinese sentences. These results suggest that syntactic processing may occur before semantic processing. Our findings are consistent with the view that the human brain implements syntactic structures in a manner that is independent of semantics.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Semântica
/
Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article