Distinct patterns of brain activity characterise lexical activation and competition in spoken word production

According to a prominent theory of language production, concepts activate multiple associated words in memory, which enter into competition for selection. However, only a few electrophysiological studies have identified brain responses reflecting competition. Here, we report a magnetoencephalography...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2014-02, Vol.9 (2), p.e88674-e88674
Main Authors: Piai, Vitória, Roelofs, Ardi, Jensen, Ole, Schoffelen, Jan-Mathijs, Bonnefond, Mathilde
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activation
Biology
Brain
Brain - physiology
Cognition & reasoning
Competition
Cortex (frontal)
Cortex (temporal)
Electrophysiological Phenomena
Female
Frontal gyrus
Humans
Hypotheses
Magnetoencephalography
Male
Medicine
Memory
Names
Naming
Neurosciences
Pictures
Reaction Time
Semantics
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Speech - physiology
Stroop Test
Studies
Temporal lobe
Young Adult
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Summary:According to a prominent theory of language production, concepts activate multiple associated words in memory, which enter into competition for selection. However, only a few electrophysiological studies have identified brain responses reflecting competition. Here, we report a magnetoencephalography study in which the activation of competing words was manipulated by presenting pictures (e.g., dog) with distractor words. The distractor and picture name were semantically related (cat), unrelated (pin), or identical (dog). Related distractors are stronger competitors to the picture name because they receive additional activation from the picture relative to other distractors. Picture naming times were longer with related than unrelated and identical distractors. Phase-locked and non-phase-locked activity were distinct but temporally related. Phase-locked activity in left temporal cortex, peaking at 400 ms, was larger on unrelated than related and identical trials, suggesting differential activation of alternative words by the picture-word stimuli. Non-phase-locked activity between roughly 350-650 ms (4-10 Hz) in left superior frontal gyrus was larger on related than unrelated and identical trials, suggesting differential resolution of the competition among the alternatives, as reflected in the naming times. These findings characterise distinct patterns of activity associated with lexical activation and competition, supporting the theory that words are selected by competition.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0088674