The role of the left anterior temporal lobe for unpredictable and complex mappings in word reading
Article [Version of Record]
Abstract(s)
The anterior temporal lobes (ATLs) have been consistently associated with semantic
processing which, in turn, has a key role in reading aloud single words. This study aimed
to investigate (1) the reading abilities in patients with the semantic variant of primary
progressive aphasia (svPPA), and (2) the relationship between gray matter (GM) volume
of the left ATL and word reading performance using voxel-based morphometry (VBM).
Three groups of participants (svPPA, Alzheimer’s Disease, AD and healthy elderly adults)
performed a reading task with exception words, regular words and pseudowords, along
with a structural magnetic resonance imaging scan. For exception words, the svPPA
group had a lower accuracy and a greater number of regularization errors as compared
to the control groups of healthy participants and AD patients. Similarly, for regular words,
svPPA patients had a lower accuracy in comparison with AD patients, and a greater
number of errors related to complex orthography-to-phonology mappings (OPM) in
comparison to both control groups. VBM analyses revealed that GM volume of the left
ATL was associated with the number of regularization errors. Also, GM volume of the left
lateral ATL was associated with the number of errors with complex OPM during regular
word reading. Our results suggest that the left ATL might play a role in the reading of
exception words, in accordance with its role in semantic processing. Results further
support the involvement of the left lateral ATL in combinatorial processes, including the
integration of semantic and phonological information, for both exception and regular
words.
Other location(s)
This document disseminated on Papyrus is the exclusive property of the copyright holders and is protected by the Copyright Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-42). It may be used for fair dealing and non-commercial purposes, for private study or research, criticism and review as provided by law. For any other use, written authorization from the copyright holders is required.