Publisher Description

Words are among the basic building blocks of language, allowing us to share a tremendous range of ideas. This book summarizes research on how words are represented, organized, and processed in our brain, offering a fascinating window into the neural basis of language. It begins with a foundational overview of linguistics and neuroscience, including neurons, networks and functional areas. It then delves into key topics and theories. It explores such questions as How do the meanings of words for objects and events relate to the brain regions involved in perception and action? Are different semantic categories of words, like those for animals and tools, segregated in the brain? What are the neural substrates of abstract words? The book describes how different theories answer these questions, and how numerous experiments help adjudicate between them. It also includes learning objectives, chapter summaries, and over 60 figures.

Table of Contents

List of Figures; Preface; 1. What are Word Meanings?; 2. How Does the Brain Work?; 3. Experiential Foundations: Are Word Meanings Grounded in Modal Networks of Sensory and Motor Areas?; 4. Semantic Hubs: Are Word Meanings Integrated in Transmodal Networks of Association Areas?; 5. Bags of Words: Do We Know Words by the Company they Keep?; 6. Organizing Concepts: Is There a Thesaurus in the Brain?; 7. The Semantic Stratosphere: How are Abstract Words Represented in the Brain?; 8. Final Words; References; Index

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Discover how our brains represent word meanings, linking perception, action, emotion, and abstract cognition.

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