picture naming

Linking production and comprehension – Investigating the lexical interface

In a typical conversation, listening and speaking go hand in hand. However, we do not yet know what cognitive machinery and brain areas are shared between production and comprehension. It is believed that the lexical (lemma) and conceptual levels are …

Language production in neurological populations

Research line

Pre-articulatory electrical activity associated with correct naming in individuals with aphasia

Picture naming is a language task that involves multiple neural networks and is used to probe aphasia-induced language deficits. The pattern of neural activation seen in healthy individuals during picture naming is disrupted in individuals with …

Lesion evidence for a critical role of left posterior but not frontal areas in alpha-beta power decreases during context-driven word production

Studies suggest that alpha–beta power decreases index word retrieval in context-driven word production. We recorded the electroencephalogram from patients with stroke lesions encompassing the left lateral-temporal and inferior-parietal regions or left lateral-frontal lobe. Results indicate a critical role for the left posterior, but not frontal cortex, in generating the alpha–beta power decreases underlying context‐driven word production.

Human hippocampal pre-activation predicts behavior

The response to an upcoming salient event is accelerated when the event is expected given the preceding events i.e. a temporal context effect. For example, naming a picture following a strongly constraining temporal context is faster than naming a …

Neuroplasticity of language in left-hemisphere stroke: evidence linking subsecond electrophysiology and structural connections

Our understanding of neuroplasticity following stroke is predominantly based on neuroimaging measures that cannot address the subsecond neurodynamics of impaired language processing. We combined behavioral and electrophysiological measures and …

Direct brain recordings reveal hippocampal rhythm underpinnings of language processing

Language is typically studied in isolation from memory. We demonstrate that the same neuronal computations used by the hippocampus for memory also subserve online language usage. These findings represent a major step in integrating the studies of language and memory, significantly expanding the role of hippocampal theta oscillations.

The electrophysiology of language production: what could be improved

Recently, the field of spoken-word production has seen an increasing interest in the use of the electroencephalogram (EEG), mainly for event-related potentials (ERPs). These are exciting times to be a language production researcher. However, no …

The role of electrophysiology in informing theories of word production: a critical standpoint

Munding, Dubarry, and Alario (this issue) courageously and thoroughly summarise the MEG literature on word production. It is evident that their task was a real undertaking and word production researchers should applaud their efforts. In this …

Beta oscillations reflect memory and motor aspects of spoken word production

Two major components form the basis of spoken word production: the access of conceptual and lexical/phonological information in long-term memory, and motor preparation and execution of an articulatory programme. Whereas the motor aspects of word …