Is semantic composition in the left anterior temporal lobe blind to syntax?
Abstract
A neural correlate of composition localizing in the left anterior temporal lobe (LATL) has been shown to reflect aspects of conceptually based semantic composition, rather than syntactic. In this study, we investigated whether this combinatory function can operate in the absence of local syntactic combination. We used so-called participant-oriented adverbs (i.e., agentive/resultative), which are semantically combinable with the event participant nouns but do not form a syntactic constituent with them. MEG results showed that such combinations nevertheless drive LATL activity, suggesting that the LATL does not require an accompanying syntactic step in order to combine meanings.
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