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Cognitive control states and traits modulate lexical competition during word production
Sifan Zhang1,2, Keyi Kang1,2, Jing Zhong1
1Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China.
Scientific Reports
|July 14, 2025
Summary
This study shows how cognitive control influences word production by managing competition between words. Better cognitive control leads to more efficient word retrieval, involving interactions between brain networks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psycholinguistics
Background:
- Word production requires resolving competition between multiple lexical candidates.
- Cognitive control mechanisms are crucial for managing this competition.
- Individual differences in cognitive control may affect word production efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how cognitive control states and traits modulate lexical competition during word production.
- To combine behavioral and neuroimaging (fMRI) techniques to understand these modulations.
- To explore the neural basis of cognitive control's influence on language processing.
Main Methods:
- A Stroop-embedded picture naming task was used to manipulate cognitive control states.
- Lexical competition was manipulated by varying the name agreement of pictures.
- Cognitive control traits were assessed using the AX Continuous Performance, Flanker, and Simon tasks.
- Behavioral data and fMRI data were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Higher lexical competition impaired naming responses, while Stroop conflict facilitated subsequent naming.
- Increased activation in language and multiple demand (MD) regions was observed during high lexical competition.
- Effective connectivity analyses revealed MD regions directly influencing language regions.
- Individuals with lower cognitive control recruited additional domain-general resources.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive control states and traits dynamically modulate word production by interacting with language networks.
- The multiple demand (MD) system plays an integrated role in managing cognitive demand during word production.
- Neural resources are recruited differently based on individual cognitive control abilities.
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