Abstract
Conceptual knowledge plays a pivotal role in human cognition. Grounded cognition theories propose that concepts consist of perceptual-motor features represented in modality-specific perceptual-motor cortices. However, it is unclear whether conceptual processing consistently engages modality-specific areas. Here, we performed an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis across 212 neuroimaging experiments on conceptual processing related to 7 perceptual-motor modalities (action, sound, visual shape, motion, color, olfaction-gustation, and emotion). We found that conceptual processing consistently engages brain regions also activated during real perceptual-motor experience of the same modalities. In addition, we identified multimodal convergence zones that are recruited for multiple modalities. In particular, the left inferior parietal lobe (IPL) and posterior middle temporal gyrus (pMTG) are engaged for three modalities: action, motion, and sound. These “trimodal” regions are surrounded by “bimodal” regions engaged for two modalities. Our findings support a novel model of the conceptual system, according to which conceptual processing relies on a hierarchical neural architecture from modality-specific to multimodal areas up to an amodal hub.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Footnotes
We have thoroughly revised our manuscript based on two anonymous reviewers' insightful comments. In particular, we have edited the Methods section to more clearly articulate our inclusion and exclusion criteria for experimental contrasts, together with concrete examples. We have also clarified our methodology for conjunction and contrast analyses. Moreover, we have revised the Discussion section to address both reviewers' theoretical questions: We now (1) discuss potential explanations for the lack of anterior temporal lobe (ATL) engagement in our meta-analysis, (2) emphasize the special roles played by action and emotion, (3) highlight the issue of task dependency in conceptual knowledge retrieval, (4) discuss alternative explanations for overlap between modalities, and (5) mention the crucial relevance of other neuroscientific methods for unravelling the neural bases of conceptual processing.
https://anima.fz-juelich.de/studies/Kuhnke_2023_Conceptual_Processing