Beyond modality-specific brain regions: The neural implementation of object colour knowledge requires anterior temporal lobes

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Beyond modality-specific brain regions: The neural implementation of object colour knowledge requires anterior temporal lobes Rocco Chiou1*, Paul Sowman1, Andy Etchell1 and Anina N. Rich1* 1 Centre for Cognition and its Disorder, Macquarie University, Australia Our representation of objects incorporates knowledge of perceptual features such as typical colour. Most studies on the neural representation of object colour knowledge test whether knowledge and perception of object colour rely on overlapping neural substrates (the left fusiform gyrus/v4). The anterior temporal lobe (ATL) has been suggested to act as a ‘conceptual hub’ that transcends sensory modalities and integrates different object attributes into a meaningful whole. While most research attention is focussed on v4, the role of the ATL in colour knowledge is surprisingly under-researched. In this study, we test whether the neural processing for colour knowledge goes beyond V4 and necessitates a supra-modal representation mediated by the ATL. In separate experimental sessions, we applied continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) to disrupt the neuronal processing in the left ATL and the control site occipital pole. Participants performed an object naming task that probes colour knowledge and elicits a reliable colour congruency effect, as well as a control numerical task that also causes stable congruency effect but involves no conceptual integration. The results show that the colour congruency effect was selectively abolished by the ATL stimulation but remained robust after the occipital stimulation. By contrast, the numerical congruency effect stayed robust whether ATL or occipital pole was stimulated. Our findings suggest that object colour knowledge is grounded upon supra-modal representations that knit together a collection of perceptual attributes and requires the ATL to implement such neural computations. Keywords: anterior temporal lobes, Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), Colour Perception, conceptual knowledge, object recognition Conference: ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 29 Nov - 2 Dec, 2012. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Language Citation: Chiou R, Sowman P, Etchell A and Rich AN (2012). Beyond modality-specific brain regions: The neural implementation of object colour knowledge requires anterior temporal lobes. Conference Abstract: ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2012.208.00132 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 08 Oct 2012; Published Online: 17 Nov 2012. * Correspondence: Mr. Rocco Chiou, Centre for Cognition and its Disorder, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, roccochiou@gmail.com Dr. Anina N Rich, Centre for Cognition and its Disorder, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, anina.rich@mq.edu.au Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Rocco Chiou Paul Sowman Andy Etchell Anina N Rich Google Rocco Chiou Paul Sowman Andy Etchell Anina N Rich Google Scholar Rocco Chiou Paul Sowman Andy Etchell Anina N Rich PubMed Rocco Chiou Paul Sowman Andy Etchell Anina N Rich Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.