Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spatial and Frequency Differences of Neuromagnetic Activities in Processing Concrete and Abstract Words

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Brain Topography Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated the neuromagnetic spatial and frequency differences between recognizing concrete and abstract words using a 275 channel whole head magnetoencephalography (MEG) system. The stimuli consisted of 100 concrete words and 100 abstract words which were presented visually and auditorily simultaneously. The data of 12 right-handed healthy subjects in six different frequency bands were analyzed with synthetic aperture magnetometry (SAM) which can identify the frequency-dependent volumetric distribution of the evoked magnetic field. Concrete and abstract words evoked a very similar neuromagnetic activation pattern in the primary visual and auditory cortices. However, concrete words evoked stronger synchronization in the right hemisphere and abstract words evoked stronger synchronization in the left hemisphere in 1–8 Hz. In addition, concrete words evoked more desynchronization in the left posterior temporal and parietal cortex; while abstract words evoked a clear synchronization in the left posterior temporal cortex and desynchronization in the left inferior frontal cortex in 70–120 Hz. Furthermore, concrete words evoked clear desynchronization in the left inferior frontal cortex while abstract words evoked strong synchronization in the left posterior temporal cortex in 200–300 Hz. These findings suggested that concrete words and abstract words are processed differently in the brain not only in anatomical substrates, but also in the frequency band of neural activation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Binder JR, Westbury CF, McKiernan KA, Possing ET, Medler DA. Distinct brain systems for processing concrete and abstract concepts. J Cogn Neurosci 2005;17:905–17.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Coltheart M. The MRC psycho-linguistic database. Q J Exp Psychol 1981;33A:497–505.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Crutch SJ, Warrington EK. Abstract and concrete concepts have structurally different representational frameworks. Brain 2005;128:615–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Crutch SJ, Warrington EK. Partial knowledge of abstract words in patients with cortical degenerative conditions. Neuropsychology 2006;20:482–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Dhond RP, Witzel T, Dale AM, Eric H. Spatiotemporal cortical dynamics underlying abstract and concrete word reading. Hum Brain Mapp 2007;28:355–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Fiebach CJ, Friederici AD. Processing concrete words: fMRI evidence against a specific right-hemisphere involvement. Neuropsychologia 2004;42:62–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kiehl KA, Liddle PF, Smith AM, Mendrek A, Forster BB, Hare RD. Neural pathways involved in the processing of concrete and abstract words. Hum Brain Mapp 1999;7:225–33.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Martin-Loeches M, Munoz F, Casado P, Hinojosa JA, Molina V. An electrophysiological (ERP) component, the recognition potential, in the assessment of brain semantic networks in patients with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2004;71:393–404.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Nittono H, Suehiro M, Hori T. Word imageability and N400 in an incidental memory paradigm. Int J Psychoshysiol 2002;44:219–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Noppeney U, Price CJ. Retrieval of abstract semantics. Neuroimage 2004;22:164–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Okada Y, Ikeda I, Zhang T, Wang Y. High- frequency signals (>400 Hz): a new window in electrophysiological analysis of the sematosensory system. Clin EEG Neurosci 2005;36:285–92.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Paivio A. Dual coding theory: retrospect and current status. Can J Psychol 1991;45:255–87.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Perani D, Schnur T, Tettamanti M, Gorno-Tempini M, Cappa SF, Fazio F. Word and picture matching: a PET study of semantic category effects. Neuropsychologia 1999;37:293–306.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Pulvermuller F. Words in the brain’s language. Behav Brain Sci 1999;22:253–79.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Swaab TY, Baynes K, Knight RT. Separable effects of priming and imageability on word processing: an ERP study. Cogn Brain Res 2002;15:99–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Schulz M, Chau W, Graham SJ, McIntosh AR, Ross B, Ishii R, Pantev C. An integrative MEG-fMRI study of the primary somatosensory cortex using cross-modal correspondence analysis. Neuroimage 2004;22:120–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Xiang J, Holowka S, Chuang S. Spatiotemporal analysis of neuromagnetic synchronization associated with mirror reading. Neurol Clin Neurophysiol 2004;90:1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Xiang J, Wilson D, Otsubo H, Ishii R, Chuang S. Neuromagnetic spectral distribution of implicit processing of words. Neuroreport 2001;12:3923–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MEG Center, Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA

    Yinhong Liu, Jing Xiang, Yingying Wang, Jennifer J. Vannest, Anna W. Byars & Douglas F. Rose

  2. Department of Neurology, Beijing Hospital, Ministry of Health, 1 Dahua Road, Beijing, 100730, China

    Yinhong Liu

Authors
  1. Yinhong Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jing Xiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yingying Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jennifer J. Vannest
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anna W. Byars
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Douglas F. Rose
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yinhong Liu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liu, Y., Xiang, J., Wang, Y. et al. Spatial and Frequency Differences of Neuromagnetic Activities in Processing Concrete and Abstract Words. Brain Topogr 20, 123–129 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-007-0038-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-007-0038-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation