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Cerebral Cortex Advance Access originally published online on August 4, 2008
Cerebral Cortex 2009 19(4):832-838; doi:10.1093/cercor/bhn131
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© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Conceptual Knowledge Is Underpinned by the Temporal Pole Bilaterally: Convergent Evidence from rTMS

Matthew A. Lambon Ralph1, Gorana Pobric1 and Elizabeth Jefferies2

1 Neuroscience and Aphasia Research Unit, School of Psychological Sciences, Zochonis Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK, 2 Department of Psychology, University of York, Heslington YO10 5DD, UK

Address correspondence to Email: matt.lambon-ralph{at}manchester.ac.uk.

Conceptual knowledge provides the basis on which we bring meaning to our world. Studies of semantic dementia patients and some functional neuroimaging studies indicate that the anterior temporal lobes, bilaterally, are the core neural substrate for the formation of semantic representations. This hypothesis remains controversial, however, as traditional neurological models of comprehension do not posit a role for these regions. To adjudicate on this debate, we conducted 2 novel experiments that used off-line, low-frequency, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to disrupt neural processing temporarily in the left or right temporal poles (TPs). The time required to make semantic decisions was slowed considerably, yet specifically, by this procedure. The results confirm that both TPs form a critical substrate within the neural network that supports conceptual knowledge.

Key Words: anterior temporal lobes • rTMS • semantic dementia • semantic memory


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