The Brain Mechanisms of Semantic Retrieval
There are a number of controversies about semantic memory and the brain: the first is where knowledge is stored, and the second is how knowledge is accessed. Research has shown there are several interacting brain networks implicated in the dynamic use of knowledge, which allow us to (1) store and retrieve dominant information (such as “salt” goes with pepper), (2) use information in a context-specific way (such as “salt” spreading on an icy path) and (3) respond to demanding tasks (such as matching “salt” with “dove” when asked to sort items according to their colour). I will present neuropsychological, TMS and behavioural evidence to answer the critical controversies: where knowledge is stored, and how it is accessed.
Dr Hannah Thompson
University of Surrey
