Making sense of the world around us depends upon selectively retrieving information relevant to our current goal or context. However, it is unclear whether selective semantic retrieval relies exclusively on general control mechanisms recruited in demanding non-semantic tasks, instead systems specialised for meaning. One hypothesis that left posterior middle temporal gyrus (pMTG) important controlled (not non-semantic) information; however this view remains controversial since a parallel...

Controlled semantic retrieval to words elicits co-activation of inferior frontal (IFG) and left posterior temporal cortex (pMTG), but research has not yet established (i) the distinct contributions these regions or (ii) whether same processes are recruited for non-verbal stimuli. Words have relatively flexible meanings – as a consequence, identifying context that links two specific is demanding. In contrast, pictures richer stimuli their precise meaning better specified by visible features...

The flexible retrieval of knowledge is critical in everyday situations involving problem solving, reasoning and social interaction. Current theories emphasise the importance a left-lateralised semantic control network (SCN) supporting behaviour, while bilateral multiple-demand (MDN) implicated executive functions across domains. No study, however, has examined whether non-semantic demands are reflected common neural code within regions specifically control. Using functional MRI univariate...

While reading, our mind can wander to unrelated autobiographical information, creating a perceptually decoupled state detrimental narrative comprehension. To understand how this mind-wandering emerges, we asked whether retrieving content necessitates functional disengagement from visual input. In Experiment 1, brain activity was recorded using magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in an experimental situation mimicking naturally occurring mind-wandering, allowing us precisely delineate neural...

Recent work has focussed on how patterns of functional change within the temporal lobe relate to whole-brain dimensions intrinsic connectivity variation (Margulies et al., 2016). We examined two such 'connectivity gradients' reflecting separation (i) unimodal versus heteromodal and (ii) visual auditory-motor cortex, examining visually presented verbal associative feature judgments, plus picture-based context emotion generation. Functional responses along first dimension sometimes showed...

Abstract Several accounts of speech perception propose that the areas involved in producing language are also perceiving it. In line with this view, neuroimaging studies show activation premotor cortex (PMC) during phoneme judgment tasks; however, there is debate about whether necessarily involves motor processes, across all task contexts, or contribution PMC restricted to tasks requiring explicit awareness. Some aspects processing, such as mapping sounds onto meaning, may proceed without...

Executive-semantic control and action understanding appear to recruit overlapping brain regions but existing evidence from neuroimaging meta-analyses neuropsychology lacks spatial precision; we therefore manipulated difficulty feature type (visual vs. action) in a single fMRI study. Harder judgements recruited an executive-semantic network encompassing medial inferior frontal (including LIFG) posterior temporal cortex pMTG). These partially overlapped with areas involved not visual...

Semantic retrieval is flexible, allowing us to focus on subsets of features and associations that are relevant the current task or context: for example, we use taxonomic relations locate items in supermarket (carrots a vegetable), but thematic decide which tools need when cooking (carrot goes with peeler). We used fMRI investigate neural basis this form semantic flexibility; particular, asked how unfolds differently participants have advanced knowledge type link retrieve between concepts...

Abstract Patients with semantic aphasia have impaired control of retrieval, often accompanied by executive dysfunction following left hemisphere stroke. Many but not all these patients damage to the inferior frontal gyrus, important for and cognitive control. Yet networks are highly distributed, including posterior as well anterior components. Accordingly, might only reflect local also white matter structural functional disconnection. Here, we characterise lesions predicted patterns...

Understanding how thought emerges from the topographical structure of cerebral cortex is a primary goal cognitive neuroscience. Recent work has revealed principal gradient intrinsic connectivity capturing separation sensory-motor transmodal regions default mode network (DMN); this to facilitate memory-guided cognition. However, studies have not explored dimension changes when conceptual retrieval controlled suit context. We used decomposition informational in semantic association task...

Processing pathways between sensory and default mode network (DMN) regions support recognition, navigation, memory but their organisation is not well understood. We show that functional subdivisions of visual cortex DMN sit at opposing ends parallel streams information processing visually mediated semantic spatial cognition, providing convergent evidence from univariate multivariate task responses, intrinsic structural connectivity. Participants learned virtual environments consisting...

Abstract Past work has demonstrated a link between semantic memory and verbal creativity. Yet, few studies have considered this relationship through the lens of controlled cognition account, which anticipates that multimodal concepts in long-term interact with control processes to generate goal context-appropriate patterns retrieval. In particular, while creativity literature distinguished divergent convergent aspects creativity, little is known about their separable control, or intrinsic...

Adaptive behavior relies both on specific rules that vary across situations and stable long-term knowledge gained from experience. The frontoparietal control network (FPCN) is implicated in the brain's ability to balance these different influences action. Here, we investigate how topographical organization of cortex supports behavioral flexibility within FPCN. Functional properties this might reflect its juxtaposition between dorsal attention (DAN) default mode (DMN), two large-scale systems...

The default mode network (DMN) typically deactivates to external tasks, yet supports semantic cognition. It comprises medial temporal (MT), core, and frontotemporal (FT) subsystems, but its functional organization is unclear: the requirement for perceptual coupling versus decoupling, input modality (visual/verbal), type of information (social/spatial), control demands all potentially affect recruitment. We examined effect these factors on activation deactivation DMN subsystems during...

Although memory is known to play a key role in creativity, previous studies have not isolated the critical component processes and networks. We asked participants generate links between words that ranged from strongly related completely unrelated long-term memory, delineating neurocognitive underpin more unusual versus stereotypical patterns of retrieval. More creative responses associated word-pairs were with greater engagement episodic memory: highly familiar situations, semantic, stores...

How concepts are coded in the brain is a core issue cognitive neuroscience. Studies have focused on how individual processed, but way which conceptual representation changes to suit context unclear. We parametrically manipulated association strength between words, presented pairs one word at time using slow event-related fMRI design. combined representational similarity analysis and computational linguistics probe neurocomputational content of these trials. Individual meaning was maintained...

Abstract Auditory language comprehension recruits cortical regions that are both close to sensory-motor landmarks (supporting auditory and motor features) far from these word meaning). We investigated whether the responsiveness of in task-based functional MRI is related individual differences their physical distance primary sensorimotor landmarks. Parcels network, were equally responsive across story math tasks, showed stronger activation individuals who had less between parcels transverse...

Abstract Understanding how human cognition flexibly supports distinct forms of behavior is a key goal neuroscience. Adaptive relies on context-specific rules that vary across situations, as well stable knowledge gained from experience. However, the mechanisms allow these influences to be appropriately balanced remain elusive. Here, we show this cognitive flexibility partly supported by topographical organization cortex. The frontoparietal control network (FPCN) located between regions...

Understanding how the human brain adapts to varying cognitive demands is crucial in neuroscience. Here, we examined networks involved controlled semantic retrieval reconfigure themselves generate neurocognitive states appropriate different task contexts. We parametrically varied of two tasks - global association and feature matching judgments contrasted these effects control with those non-semantic tasks. then characterized on cortical surface within a whole-brain state space, anchored by...

The default mode network (DMN) lies towards the heteromodal end of principal gradient intrinsic connectivity, maximally separated from sensory-motor cortex. It supports memory-based cognition, including capacity to retrieve conceptual and evaluative information sensory inputs, generate meaningful states internally; however, functional organisation DMN that can support these distinct modes retrieval remains unclear. We used fMRI examine whether activation within subsystems differed as a...