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Anterior temporal lobes mediate semantic representation: Mimicking semantic dementia by using rTMS in normal participants.
Pobric GG, Jefferies E, Lambon Ralph MA
PNAS. 2007;104:20137-20141.
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Abstract
Studies of semantic dementia and PET neuroimaging investigationssuggest that the anterior temporal lobes (ATL) are a criticalsubstrate for semantic representation. In stark contrast, classicalneurological models of comprehension do not include ATL, andlikewise functional MRI studies often fail to show activations in theATL, reinforcing the classical view. Using a novel application oflow-frequency, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)over the ATL, we demonstrate that the behavioral pattern ofsemantic dementia can be mirrored in neurologically intact participants:Specifically, we show that temporary disruption to neuralprocessing in the ATL produces a selective semantic impairmentleading to significant slowing in both picture naming and wordcomprehension but not to other equally demanding, nonsemanticcognitive tasks.