Abstract
Theories of reading have posited the existence of a neural representation coding for whole real words (i.e., an orthographic lexicon), but experimental support for such a representation has proved elusive. Using fMRI rapid adaptation techniques, we provide evidence that the human left ventral occipitotemporal cortex (specifically the "visual word form area," VWFA) contains a representation based on neurons highly selective for individual real words, in contrast to current theories that posit a sublexical representation in the VWFA.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Analysis of Variance
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Attention / physiology
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Discrimination, Psychological / physiology*
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Female
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Functional Laterality / physiology
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Humans
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Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
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Male
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Neurons / physiology*
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Occipital Lobe / blood supply
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Occipital Lobe / cytology*
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Oxygen / blood
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Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology*
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Photic Stimulation
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Reaction Time / physiology
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Reading
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Semantics
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Temporal Lobe / blood supply
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Temporal Lobe / cytology*
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Vocabulary*
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Young Adult