Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026

A Semantic Priming Event-related Potential ERP Task to Study Lexico-semantic and Visuo-semantic Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 12, 2018
Activation of the prefrontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex increases the recognition of semantic violations in
Michela Balconi1, Ylenia Canavesio1, Silvia Vitaloni1
1Research Unit in Affective and Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Gemelli, 1, 20123 Milan, Italy.
Background:
The correct outcome of transitive actions depends on an object's use, considering both the instrumental and functional features. Indeed, the representation of transitive action includes the correct/incorrect instrumental use and the congruous/incongruous functional use of the object.
Objectives:
The contribution of frontal (experiment 1) and posterior parietal (experiment 2) areas to process semantic violations in instrumental vs. functional action representation was explored.
Methods:
These cortical areas were appositely modulated by anodal tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) or sham tDCS when 43 healthy subjects processed semantic violations (congruous/incongruous pairs) and they had to perform an error detection task (measuring ERs - error rates; and RTs - response times).
Results:
Decreased RTs were observed for incongruous pairs in the case of prefrontal stimulation compared to the sham condition. This effect was related to both the instrumental and functional conditions, suggesting that the activation of the prefrontal area may increase the ability to analyze the semantic incongruence independently from the anomaly type, which would limit the cognitive costs. In contrast, posterior parietal stimulation reduced RTs only in response to functional action in the case of semantic incongruence.
Conclusions:
Thus, different cortical contributions by anterior vs. posterior areas occurred in response to semantic incongruences respectively for generic expectancy violations (more frontally distributed) and specific functional violations (more parietally distributed).
More Related Videos
09:00Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex
Published on: April 15, 2015
05:38Interaction between Phonological and Semantic Processes in Visual Word Recognition using Electrophysiology
Published on: June 29, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
Association Areas of the Cortex
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,...
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
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....
Parallel Processing
Somatosensation