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

Lateralization01:28

Lateralization

750
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.
750
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

2.5K
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...
2.5K
Cerebral Hemispheres01:05

Cerebral Hemispheres

1.5K
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...
1.5K
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

553
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
553
Components of Language01:24

Components of Language

577
Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs.
577
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

7.7K
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,...
7.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Assessing adverse effects and unspecific effects of transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS).

Imaging neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)·2026
Same author

Global prevalence and disability burden of brain disorders: Impact of neurological, mental, and substance use disorders.

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2026
Same author

A Novel Approach to Map the Causal Impact of Brain Stimulation on Semantic Processing With Language Models.

Neurobiology of language (Cambridge, Mass.)·2026
Same author

Effects of electric field direction on TMS-based motor cortex mapping.

Imaging neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)·2026
Same author

Stimulation success!? Improved response inhibition performance after prefrontal single-site and condition-and-perturb transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Cognitive, affective & behavioral neuroscience·2026
Same author

Task load modulates network interactions between bilateral fronto-parietal and cerebellar areas during verbal working memory.

iScience·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention
05:36

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention

Published on: November 16, 2017

7.8K

Differential contributions of left-hemispheric language regions to basic semantic composition.

Astrid Graessner1,2, Emiliano Zaccarella3, Gesa Hartwigsen4,3

  • 1Lise-Meitner Research Group Cognition and Plasticity, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany. graessner@cbs.mpg.de.

Brain Structure & Function
|January 30, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Researchers identified distinct brain regions involved in semantic composition, differentiating between evaluating phrase plausibility and combining conceptual information. This reveals how the brain processes meaningful language.

Keywords:
Angular gyrusConceptual combinationFunctional connectivityMeaning compositionfMRI

More Related Videos

Interaction between Phonological and Semantic Processes in Visual Word Recognition using Electrophysiology
05:38

Interaction between Phonological and Semantic Processes in Visual Word Recognition using Electrophysiology

Published on: June 29, 2021

2.6K
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

17.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention
05:36

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention

Published on: November 16, 2017

7.8K
Interaction between Phonological and Semantic Processes in Visual Word Recognition using Electrophysiology
05:38

Interaction between Phonological and Semantic Processes in Visual Word Recognition using Electrophysiology

Published on: June 29, 2021

2.6K
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

17.6K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psycholinguistics

Background:

  • Semantic composition, the brain's ability to combine words into complex meanings, is crucial for human language.
  • The specific neural networks and interactions underlying semantic composition are still under investigation.
  • Understanding these processes is key to deciphering the neural basis of language comprehension.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify distinct neural signatures for different semantic composition processes.
  • To investigate the roles of specific brain regions in evaluating phrase plausibility versus conceptual combination.
  • To explore task-dependent neural recruitment in semantic processing.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm with two-word phrases.
  • Compared neural activity for meaningful ('fresh apple'), anomalous ('awake apple'), and pseudoword ('awake gufel') phrases.
  • Employed both implicit and explicit semantic tasks to assess task-dependent effects.

Main Results:

  • Evaluating phrase plausibility (meaningful vs. anomalous) activated a core left-hemispheric semantic network, including the anterior angular gyrus.
  • Conceptual combination (meaningful/anomalous vs. pseudoword) engaged a widespread left-hemispheric network, including executive control and conceptual regions.
  • Increased functional coupling was observed between the inferior frontal gyrus, pre-supplementary motor area, and posterior angular gyrus for meaningful phrases.

Conclusions:

  • Distinct neural processes underlie semantic composition, separable by the type of cognitive load.
  • The anterior angular gyrus plays a role in evaluating semantic plausibility.
  • Widespread networks, including executive control regions, are involved in complex conceptual combination, with task demands modulating neural recruitment.