Implicit and explicit processing of kanji and kana words and non-words studied with fMRI Export

@article{citeulike:2949154, abstract = {Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated the implicit language processing of kanji and kana words (i.e., hiragana transcriptions of normally written kanji words) and non-words. Twelve right-handed native Japanese speakers performed size judgments for character stimuli (implicit language task for linguistic stimuli), size judgments for scrambled-character stimuli (implicit language task for non-linguistic stimuli), and lexical decisions (explicit language task). The size judgments for scrambled-kanji stimuli and scrambled-kana stimuli produced activations on the bilateral lingual gyri (BA 18), the bilateral occipitotemporal regions (BA 19/37), and the bilateral superior and inferior parietal cortices (BA 7/40). Interestingly, besides these areas, activations of the left inferior frontal region (Broca's area, BA 44/45) and the left posterior inferior temporal cortex (PITC, BA 37), which have been considered as language areas, were additionally activated during size judgment for kanji character stimuli. Size judgment for kana character stimuli also activated Broca's area, the left PITC, and the left supramarginal gyrus (SMG, BA 40). The activations of these language areas were replicated in the lexical decisions for both kanji and kana. These findings suggest that language processing of both kanji and kana scripts is obligatory to literate Japanese subjects. Moreover, comparison between the scrambled kanji and the scrambled kana showed no activation in the language areas, while greater activation in the bilateral fusiform gyri (left-side predominant) was found in kanji vs. kana comparison during the size judgment and the lexical decision. Kana minus kanji activated the left SMG during the size judgment, and Broca's area and the left middle/superior temporal junction during the lexical decision. These results probably reflect that in implicit or explicit reading of kanji words and kana words (i.e., hiragana transcriptions of kanji words), although using largely overlapping cortical regions, there are still some differences. Kanji reading may involve more heavily visual orthographic retrieval and lexical-semantic system through the ventral route, while kana transcriptions of kanji words require phonological recoding to gain semantic access through the dorsal route.}, author = {Ha and Matsuo, Kayako and Nakamura, Kimihiro and Toma, Keiichiro and Oga, Tatsuhide and Nakai, Toshiharu and Shibasaki, Hiroshi and Fukuyama, Hidenao}, citeulike-article-id = {2949154}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2004.07.059}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WNP-4DJBR5Y-7/1/0d316743041439e29e9551160e32b267}, doi = {10.1016/j.neuroimage.2004.07.059}, journal = {NeuroImage}, keywords = {fmri, kana, kanji, words}, month = {November}, number = {3}, pages = {878--889}, posted-at = {2008-07-01 20:49:27}, priority = {2}, title = {Implicit and explicit processing of kanji and kana words and non-words studied with fMRI}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2004.07.059}, volume = {23}, year = {2004} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2949154 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2949154 N2 - Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated the implicit language processing of kanji and kana words (i.e., hiragana transcriptions of normally written kanji words) and non-words. Twelve right-handed native Japanese speakers performed size judgments for character stimuli (implicit language task for linguistic stimuli), size judgments for scrambled-character stimuli (implicit language task for non-linguistic stimuli), and lexical decisions (explicit language task). The size judgments for scrambled-kanji stimuli and scrambled-kana stimuli produced activations on the bilateral lingual gyri (BA 18), the bilateral occipitotemporal regions (BA 19/37), and the bilateral superior and inferior parietal cortices (BA 7/40). Interestingly, besides these areas, activations of the left inferior frontal region (Broca's area, BA 44/45) and the left posterior inferior temporal cortex (PITC, BA 37), which have been considered as language areas, were additionally activated during size judgment for kanji character stimuli. Size judgment for kana character stimuli also activated Broca's area, the left PITC, and the left supramarginal gyrus (SMG, BA 40). The activations of these language areas were replicated in the lexical decisions for both kanji and kana. These findings suggest that language processing of both kanji and kana scripts is obligatory to literate Japanese subjects. Moreover, comparison between the scrambled kanji and the scrambled kana showed no activation in the language areas, while greater activation in the bilateral fusiform gyri (left-side predominant) was found in kanji vs. kana comparison during the size judgment and the lexical decision. Kana minus kanji activated the left SMG during the size judgment, and Broca's area and the left middle/superior temporal junction during the lexical decision. These results probably reflect that in implicit or explicit reading of kanji words and kana words (i.e., hiragana transcriptions of kanji words), although using largely overlapping cortical regions, there are still some differences. Kanji reading may involve more heavily visual orthographic retrieval and lexical-semantic system through the ventral route, while kana transcriptions of kanji words require phonological recoding to gain semantic access through the dorsal route. IS - 3 JF - NeuroImage EP - 889 TI - Implicit and explicit processing of kanji and kana words and non-words studied with fMRI VL - 23 SP - 878 KW - fmri KW - kana KW - kanji KW - words AU - Ha AU - Matsuo, Kayako AU - Nakamura, Kimihiro AU - Toma, Keiichiro AU - Oga, Tatsuhide AU - Nakai, Toshiharu AU - Shibasaki, Hiroshi AU - Fukuyama, Hidenao PY - 2004/11// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2004.07.059 ER -