Neuroimaging of text comprehension: Where are we now?
Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: The study of discourse comprehension processes and pragmatics using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) is a rather recent, but exciting development. Based on prior reviews (Ferstl 2007; Ferstl et al. 2008), the chapter revisits the question of whether neuroimaging studies can inform psycholinguistic theory. Empirical studies on inference processes, situation model building, and the comprehension of non-literal and pragmatic language (e.g., metaphors, irony, verbal humour) are summarized. The issues of particular interest are whether we can now further specify the functions of the brain areas involved in discourse comprehension. It is concluded that there is converging evidence for a role of the parieto-medial cortex for situation model updating, for the dorso-medial prefrontal cortex during non-automatic inference processes, and for the anterior temporal lobes as heteromodal integration areas for verbal material. In contrast, the right hemisphere is clearly important for discourse comprehension, but the specific roles of right sided brain areas still need to be delineated. Finally, neuroscientific research has led psycholinguistics to an appreciation of social and emotional aspects of communication, including Theory-of-Mind.
Author: Evelyn C. Ferstl
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2181306556