Anterior temporal lobes mediate semantic representation: mimicking semantic dementia by using rTMS in normal participants

Gorana Pobric; Elizabeth Jefferies; Matthew A. Lambon Ralph

doi:10.1073/pnas.0707383104

Anterior temporal lobes mediate semantic representation: mimicking semantic dementia by using rTMS in normal participants

Gorana Pobric, Elizabeth Jefferies, Matthew A. Lambon Ralph

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Studies of semantic dementia and PET neurolimaging investigations suggest that the anterior temporal lobes (ATL) are a critical substrate for semantic representation. In stark contrast, classical neurological models of comprehension do not include ATL, and likewise functional MRI studies often fail to show activations in the ATL, reinforcing the classical view. Using a novel application of low-frequency, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation [rTMS) over the ATL, we demonstrate that the behavioral pattern of semantic dementia can be mirrored in neurologically intact participants: Specifically, we show that temporary disruption to neural processing in the ATL produces a selective semantic impairment leading to significant slowing in both picture naming and word comprehension but not to other equally demanding, nonsemantic cognitive tasks.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	20137-20141
Number of pages	5
Journal	Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume	104
Issue number	50
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0707383104
Publication status	Published - 11 Dec 2007

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10.1073/pnas.0707383104

Cite this

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title = "Anterior temporal lobes mediate semantic representation: mimicking semantic dementia by using rTMS in normal participants",

abstract = "Studies of semantic dementia and PET neurolimaging investigations suggest that the anterior temporal lobes (ATL) are a critical substrate for semantic representation. In stark contrast, classical neurological models of comprehension do not include ATL, and likewise functional MRI studies often fail to show activations in the ATL, reinforcing the classical view. Using a novel application of low-frequency, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation [rTMS) over the ATL, we demonstrate that the behavioral pattern of semantic dementia can be mirrored in neurologically intact participants: Specifically, we show that temporary disruption to neural processing in the ATL produces a selective semantic impairment leading to significant slowing in both picture naming and word comprehension but not to other equally demanding, nonsemantic cognitive tasks.",

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Anterior temporal lobes mediate semantic representation: mimicking semantic dementia by using rTMS in normal participants. / Pobric, Gorana; Jefferies, Elizabeth; Ralph, Matthew A. Lambon.
In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 104, No. 50, 11.12.2007, p. 20137-20141.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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