In an FMRI study we would like to examine the hypothesis that different cortical networks support syntactic and semantic computations by using the different uses of the word 'zich'. The results give us the change to evaluate linguistic (…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Other condition
Synonym
Health condition
geen medisch onderzoek
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
The signal extracted is the BOLD signal (Blood Oxygen Dependent), and gives
information about neuronal activation. This measure yields optimal spatial
resolution in terms of localizing activations to specific brain areas and is
therefore very suited to explore issues regarding modularity.
Secondary outcome
nvt
Background summary
Some recent linguistic and neurolinguistic models of language processing
propose a modular architecture for the human language system (e.g. Reuland,
2001; Friederici & Kotz, 2003). The necessary computations are thought to occur
at a syntactic (i.e., grammatical) or semantic (i.e., meaning) level and it is
suggested that these different levels of language processing are supported by
different cortical networks. In this particular study we are interested in the
resolution of the Dutch anaphor 'zich' which can occur in different structural
environments. According to Reuland, in a sentence like 'John verbaasde zich'
the element 'zich' can only be resolved at the syntactic level. Alternatively,
in a structure like 'John legt het boek naast zich' the element 'zich' behaves
as a pronoun and can only be resolved at the semantic level. In an FMRI study
we would like to examine the hypothesis that different cortical networks
support syntactic and semantic computations by using the different uses of the
word 'zich'.
Study objective
In an FMRI study we would like to examine the hypothesis that different
cortical networks support syntactic and semantic computations by using the
different uses of the word 'zich'. The results give us the change to evaluate
linguistic (Reuland, 2001) and neurolinguistic models (Friederici & Kotz, 2004)
of the human language system.
Study design
FMRI will be applied to measure brain activation while participants silently
read sentences which contain the anaphoric element 'zich' in different
structural situations.
Study burden and risks
The risks of the project are minimal and the task (i.e., reading) is not very
demanding. As the results can clearly enhance our understanding of the brain
structures involved in language processing, we are convinced that the potential
benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Janskerkhof 13
3512 BL Utrecht
Nederland
Janskerkhof 13
3512 BL Utrecht
Nederland
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
- physically healthy
- age between 18 and 45
- right handed (score higher than 0.4 on the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory)(score higher than )
Exclusion criteria
- metal objects in or around the body (braces, pacemaker, metal fragments)
- drug or alcohol abuse over a period of six months prior to the experiment
- history of closed-head injury
- history of neurological illness or endocrinological dysfunction
- pregnancy
- use of medication other than anticonceptives
- history of psychiatric illness
- diagnosed learning orr language disability
Design
Recruitment
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In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL13371.041.07 |