Error message

  • Deprecated function: implode(): Passing glue string after array is deprecated. Swap the parameters in drupal_get_feeds() (line 394 of /home/htdocs/kim63/html/includes/common.inc).
  • Deprecated function: The each() function is deprecated. This message will be suppressed on further calls in menu_set_active_trail() (line 2405 of /home/htdocs/kim63/html/includes/menu.inc).
2010 and earlier
Article
Assadollahi, R., Meinzer, M., Flaisch, T., Obleser, J., & Rockstroh, B.

The representation of the verb's argument structure as disclosed by fMRI

Assadollahi, R., Meinzer, M., Flaisch, T., Obleser, J., & Rockstroh, B. (2009). The representation of the verb's argument structure as disclosed by fMRI. BMC Neuroscience, 10:3. doi: 10.1186/1471-2202-10-3

Background

In the composition of an event the verb's argument structure defines the number of participants and their relationships. Previous studies indicated distinct brain responses depending on how many obligatory arguments a verb takes. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study served to verify the neural structures involved in the processing of German verbs with one (e.g. "snore") or three (e.g. "gives") argument structure. Within a silent reading design, verbs were presented either in isolation or with a minimal syntactic context ("snore" vs. "Peter snores").

Results

Reading of isolated one-argument verbs ("snore") produced stronger BOLD responses than three-argument verbs ("gives") in the inferior temporal fusiform gyrus (BA 37) of the left hemisphere, validating previous magnetoencephalographic findings. When presented in context one-argument verbs ("Peter snores") induced more pronounced activity in the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) of the left hemisphere than three-argument verbs ("Peter gives").

Conclusion

In line with previous studies our results corroborate the left temporal lobe as site of representation and the IFG as site of processing of verbs' argument structure.