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Meaning
Semantics, the science of the meaning of signs, has a foundation in brain research. At the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, we are investigating the brain correlates of words and sentences with the aim to map different facets of semantics to specific areas of the neural substrate. This research brings to fruit both brain imaging and the study of patients suffering from disease of the brain. Important impulses come from real-time neuroimaging using magneto- and electroencephalography, MEG and EEG, as brain correlates of semantic access processes have been found to ignite early: Understanding in an instant (within 200 ms) seems to be the rule. Our work is inspired by theories that ground meaning in neuronal circuits with specific cortical distributions.
The following researchers at MRC-CBU place a main focus of their research on semantics:
For the MRC CBU project SL4 please click here.