Distinct spatiotemporal patterns of syntactic and semantic processing in human inferior frontal gyrus

Yanming Zhu, Min Xu, Junfeng Lu, Jianhua Hu, Veronica P. Y. Kwok, Yulong Zhou, Di Yuan, Bin Wu, Jie Zhang, Jinsong Wu () and Li Hai Tan ()
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Yanming Zhu: Fudan University
Min Xu: Shenzhen University
Junfeng Lu: Fudan University
Jianhua Hu: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Veronica P. Y. Kwok: Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience
Yulong Zhou: Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience
Di Yuan: Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience
Bin Wu: Fudan University
Jie Zhang: Fudan University
Jinsong Wu: Fudan University
Li Hai Tan: Jinan University (Shenzhen)

Nature Human Behaviour, 2022, vol. 6, issue 8, 1104-1111

Abstract: Abstract Human languages are based on syntax, a set of rules which allow an infinite number of meaningful sentences to be constructed from a finite set of words. A theory associated with Chomsky and others holds that syntax is a mind-internal, universal structure independent of semantics. This theory, however, has been challenged by studies of the Chinese language showing that syntax is processed under the semantic umbrella, and is secondary and not independent. Here, using intracranial high-density electrocorticography, we find distinct spatiotemporal patterns of neural activity in the left inferior frontal gyrus that are specifically associated with syntactic and semantic processing of Chinese sentences. These results suggest that syntactic processing may occur before semantic processing. Our findings are consistent with the view that the human brain implements syntactic structures in a manner that is independent of semantics.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01334-6

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