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Related Concept Videos

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.
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,...
Lateralization01:28

Lateralization

Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:23

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...
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.
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition
12:49

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition

Published on: July 13, 2019

Lateral inferotemporal cortex maintains conceptual-semantic representations in verbal working memory.

Christian J Fiebach1, Angela D Friederici, Edward E Smith

  • 1Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Germany. fiebach@uni-heidelberg.de

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
|September 26, 2007
PubMed
Summary

This study shows that semantic working memory, involving conceptual combinations, activates brain regions in the temporal and frontal lobes. This suggests a temporo-frontal system supports maintaining conceptual information in working memory.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition
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Published on: July 13, 2019

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Psycholinguistics

Background:

  • Verbal working memory is traditionally linked to phonological representations.
  • Emerging evidence suggests conceptual-semantic representations are also maintained in working memory.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural basis of maintaining conceptual combinations in working memory.
  • To identify brain regions involved in semantic working memory.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a novel semantic working memory task requiring maintenance of conceptual combinations.
  • Utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to analyze brain activity during the task.
  • Compared brain activation during conceptual combination maintenance versus a control item recognition task.

Main Results:

  • Increased activation observed in posterior left middle and inferior temporal gyri during conceptual combination maintenance.
  • Enhanced activation detected in the left inferior frontal gyrus, associated with semantic control.
  • fMRI data revealed a temporo-frontal network supporting semantic working memory.

Conclusions:

  • A temporo-frontal system underpins the maintenance of conceptual information in working memory.
  • Left inferior frontal gyrus plays a role in controlling sustained activation of conceptual representations.
  • Conceptual-semantic representations are actively maintained in working memory via a distinct neural network.