Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
Lobes of the Cerebrum01:22

Lobes of the Cerebrum

The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Cerebral Hemispheres01:05

Cerebral Hemispheres

The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Working Memory01:24

Working Memory

Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Seven core qualities of good vs. bad play? A principal component analysis of 504 children's play memories and development of a Play Qualities Inventory.

Frontiers in psychology·2026
Same author

Microglial activation is raised in preclinical Alzheimer's disease and associated with covert memory impairment.

Frontiers in dementia·2026
Same author

This and that in depression: Cross-linguistic semantic effects.

PLOS mental health·2026
Same author

Diffusion kurtosis imaging detects cortical microstructural alterations in amyloid-positive MCI patients.

Frontiers in dementia·2026
Same author

Rethinking Prosody Production in Autism: Nuanced Insights From Individual Differences and Network Analysis Approaches.

Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR·2026
Same author

Neurodegeneration and energy depletion in MS: Links between tissue integrity loss and microvascular changes in white matter disease.

Neuroimage. Reports·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping
13:12

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

Accessing the mental space-Spatial working memory processes for language and vision overlap in precuneus.

Mikkel Wallentin1, Ethan Weed, Leif Østergaard

  • 1The Danish National Research Foundation's Center for Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. mikkel@pet.auh.dk

Human Brain Mapping
|May 26, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Reading sentences about spatial relationships activates brain regions also used for visual processing. This suggests language meaning construction involves perception and memory networks.

More Related Videos

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex
09:00

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Published on: April 15, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping
13:12

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex
09:00

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Published on: April 15, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • The overlapping systems theory posits that language meaning relies on nonlinguistic cognitive systems like perception and memory.
  • Understanding how language interacts with these systems is crucial for a complete neurocognitive model.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if processing spatial relations from sentences engages the same neural systems as visual spatial processing.
  • To explore the neural basis of meaning construction in language.

Main Methods:

  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure brain activity.
  • Participants read sentences describing spatial and nonspatial relationships between agents.
  • Brain activity during recall of spatial versus nonspatial sentence content was compared.

Main Results:

  • Recall of spatial content from sentences elicited greater Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent (BOLD) response than nonspatial content.
  • This increased BOLD response was observed in a dorsoposterior network, notably the precuneus.
  • The activated brain regions overlapped with those previously identified for visual spatial memory recall.

Conclusions:

  • Linguistic processing of spatial relations recruits neural systems also involved in visual spatial processing.
  • This finding supports the overlapping systems theory, demonstrating language interacts with perceptual and memory networks.
  • Sentences establish meaning through integration with the brain's existing perceptual and working memory systems.