synopsis
The ultimate aim of the neurocognition of language is to understand how, when, and where in the brain meaning is computed from linguistic input. In this seminar, we will first explore:
- How these questions can be addressed empirically using electrophysiological (e.g., electroencephalography, EEG) and hemodynamic (e.g., functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, fMRI) methods;
- How empirical results inform neurocognitive theories and models of language processing;
- How neurocomputational modeling can help to test, validate, and further refine our theories and models.
From here, we will then develop the course according to your interests. Each of you will first give one oral presentation on a topic/paper of choice (in consultation). For the remaining slots (if any), we will collectively pick papers that we will discuss reading group style.
course overview
Neurocognition of Language is a seminar taught in the Department of Language Science and Technology at Saarland University. It is open for both (advanced) bachelor-level and master-level students.
Lecturer: Harm Brouwer <me[at]hbrouwer.eu>
Time: Tuesday
12:15-13:45
Place: Online (Microsoft Teams)
Start: 03.11.20
Credits: 4 CP (presentation), 7 CP (presentation + term paper)
Registration: Send me
an email to enrol for the course
schedule
This is the course schedule. For the first lectures, see below for suggested background literature.
Date | Topic | Presenter |
---|---|---|
|
|
|
03.11.20 | Introduction to the Neurocognition of Language (Brief) | Harm Brouwer |
10.11.20 | Electrophysiology of Language Processing I | Harm Brouwer |
17.11.20 | Electrophysiology of Language Processing II | Harm Brouwer |
24.11.20 | Aligning Electrophysiology and Functional Neuroanatomy | Harm Brouwer |
01.12.20 | Neuroanatomy: Friederici, A. D. (2009). Trends in Cognitive Sciences | Isidora Jeknić |
08.12.20 | Memory: Kutas and Federmeier (2000). Trends in Cognitive Sciences | Anastasiia Kalmykova |
— | Memory: Höltje et al. (2019). Neuropsychologia | Maria Kleinherbers |
15.12.20 | Neurocomputational Modeling: Brouwer et al. (2017). Cognitive Science | Luuk Suurmeijer |
22.12.20 | (no class) | — |
29.12.20 | (no class) | — |
05.01.21 | Component Overlap: Delogu et al. (2019). Brain and Cognition | Maria Francis |
— | Component Overlap: Brouwer et al. (2020). European Journal of Neuroscience | Nora Graichen |
12.01.21 | Neurocomputational Modeling: Brouwer et al. (unpublished manuscript) | Hailin Hao |
19.01.21 | L2 Research: Steinhauer (2014). Applied Linguistics | AriaRay Brown |
— | Figurative Language: Regel et al. (2011). Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience | Kathryn Fisher |
26.01.21 | Reference: Van Berkum et al. (2007). Brain Research | Siyu Tao |
— | Domain Adaptation: Troyer et al. (2020). Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition | Benedict Schneider |
02.02.21 | Neuropragmatics: Hoeks and Brouwer (2014). In: Ofxord Handbook of Language and Social Psychology | Pietro Mingardi |
suggested literature
03.11.20
- Hagoort, P. (2019). The neurobiology of language beyond single-word processing. Science 36(6461), pp. 55-58. doi: 10.1126/science.aax0289
10.11.20
- Kutas, M., van Petten, C., & Kluender, R. (2006). Psycholinguistics Electrified II: 1994-2005. In M. J. Traxler & M. A. Gernsbacher (Eds.), Handbook of psycholinguistics, 2nd ed. pp. 659-724. New York: Elsevier.
- Gazzaniga, M. S., Ivry, R. B., and Mangun, G. R. (2014). Methods of Cognitive Neuroscience. In: Gazzaniga, M. S., Ivry, R. B., and Mangun, G. R. (Eds.), Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind, 4th ed., pp. 71-119. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
17.11.20
- *Brouwer, H., Fitz, H. and Hoeks, J. C. J. (2012). Getting real about Semantic Illusions: Rethinking the functional role of the P600 in language comprehension. Brain Research, 1446, pp. 127-143. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.01.055
- Kuperberg, G. R. (2007). Neural mechanisms of language comprehension: Challenges to syntax. Brain Research, 1146, pp. 23-49. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2006.12.063
- Bornkessel-Schlesewsky, I., & Schlesewsky, M. (2008). An alternative perspective on semantic P600 effects in language comprehension. Brain Research Reviews, 59(1), 55-73. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresrev.2008.05.003
- Delogu, F., Brouwer, H., and Crocker, M. W. (2019). Event-related potentials index lexical retrieval (N400) and integration (P600) during language comprehension. Brain and Cognition, 135. doi: 10.1016/j.bandc.2019.05.007
24.11.20
- *Brouwer, H. and Hoeks J. C. J. (2013). A Time and Place for Language Comprehension: Mapping the N400 and the P600 to a Minimal Cortical Network. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 7:758. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00758
- Baggio, G. and Hagoort, P. (2011). The balance between memory and unification in semantics: A dynamic account of the N400. Language and Cognitive Processes, 26:1338-1367.
- Brouwer, H. and Crocker, M. W. (2017). On the proper treatment of the N400 and P600 in language comprehension. Frontiers in Psychology 8:1327. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01327