Concepts, Language, and the Brain
We investigate brain bases of language and especially meaning or semantics. We study how concepts are represented and processed in the brain. One question that is a current focus of our research is: Is the conceptual (thinking) system of the brain completely separate from the perception-action (seeing, hearing, acting) systems of the brain? We can further ask questions such as: To what extent does language about time and space use neural resources used for perceiving time and space? What is the effect of pathology of the sensory-motor systems on conceptual processing?
Some of our current projects include the functions of anterior temporal lobe (ATL), action and abstract semantics in Parkinson’s, semantics in stroke patients, representation of temporal and spatial language, embodiment of metaphors and idioms, and knowledge of people and places.
Our methodology includes functional MRI (fMRI), lesion-symptom mapping, transcraial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), computational modeling, and behavioral studies.