Abstract
Imaging evidence shows that separate subdivisions of parietal cortex, in and around the intraparietal sulcus (IPS), are engaged when stimuli are grouped according to color and to motion (Zeki and Stutters, 2013). Since grouping is an essential step in the formation of concepts, we wanted to learn whether parietal cortex is also engaged in the formation of concepts according to these two attributes. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and choosing the recognition of concept-based color or motion stimuli as our paradigm, we found that there was strong concept-related activity in and around the IPS, a region whose homolog in the macaque monkey is known to receive direct but segregated anatomical inputs from V4 and V5. Parietal activity related to color concepts was juxtaposed but did not overlap with activity related to motion concepts, thus emphasizing the continuation of the segregation of color and motion into the conceptual system. Concurrent retinotopic mapping experiments showed that within the parietal cortex, concept-related activity increases within later stage IPS areas.
Highlights
Abstraction is a key part of concept formation, involving the ability to generalize across particular instances, to generate knowledge of abstract categories and subsequently concepts (Medin and Smith, 1984)
In the work reported here, we examine the role of the parietal cortex in the formation of categorical and conceptual knowledge, and whether the principle of functional specialization (Zeki et al, 1991), which seems to apply for the grouping and segmentation of stimuli according to color and motion in parietal cortex, applies to the formation of concepts related to the two attributes
Our principal aim in this study was to learn whether human parietal cortex plays a role in the formation of concepts based on color and motion and, if so, whether it is the same or contiguous regions of parietal cortex that are involved
Summary
Abstraction is a key part of concept formation, involving the ability to generalize across particular instances, to generate knowledge of abstract categories and subsequently concepts (Medin and Smith, 1984). In the work reported here, we examine the role of the parietal cortex in the formation of categorical and conceptual knowledge, and whether the principle of functional specialization (Zeki et al, 1991), which seems to apply for the grouping and segmentation of stimuli according to color and motion in parietal cortex, applies to the formation of concepts related to the two attributes. This seemed plausible, given that grouping is a step in the formation of concepts. If the principles of functional segregation are maintained, non-overlapping and separable areas in parietal cortex should be engaged in the formation of concepts based on these two attributes
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