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Related Concept Videos

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.
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...
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.
Language Development01:22

Language Development

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Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

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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:
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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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Examining Online Syntactic Processing of Spoken Complex Sentences in Chinese Using Dual-Modal Interference Tasks
08:32

Examining Online Syntactic Processing of Spoken Complex Sentences in Chinese Using Dual-Modal Interference Tasks

Published on: September 5, 2019

Syntactic processing of complex sentences in left lateral premotor cortex.

Kenji Ogawa1, Toshio Inui, Masato Ohba

  • 1ERATO Asada Synergistic Intelligence Project, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Japan. ogawa@cog.ist.i.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Neuroreport
|May 9, 2008
PubMed
Summary

The left premotor cortex is specifically involved in processing complex center-embedded sentences, not general syntactic complexity. This brain region shows increased activity for center-embedded structures due to higher demands on working memory.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Syntactic processing is crucial for language comprehension.
  • The neural basis of processing complex sentence structures remains an active area of research.
  • Previous studies suggest various brain regions contribute to syntactic complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the left lateral premotor cortex in processing complex sentence structures.
  • To differentiate the neural processing of center-embedded (CE) sentences from left-branching (LB) and active-conjoined (AC) sentences.
  • To determine if premotor cortex activation relates to general syntactic complexity or specific structural demands.

Main Methods:

  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed to measure brain activity.
  • Participants read and processed three types of complex sentences: left-branching (LB), center-embedded (CE), and active-conjoined (AC).
  • Participants performed a task to determine noun-verb relationships within the sentences.

Main Results:

  • A significant increase in activation was observed in the left lateral premotor cortex specifically for center-embedded (CE) sentences.
  • No significant difference in activation was found between left-branching (LB) and active-conjoined (AC) sentences.
  • The findings indicate that left premotor cortex activity is selective for CE structures.

Conclusions:

  • Left premotor cortex activation is not driven by general syntactic complexity.
  • Processing of center-embedded (CE) sentences places unique demands on the syntactic buffer or integration mechanisms.
  • The left lateral premotor cortex plays a specific role in managing the cognitive load associated with CE sentence structures.