Abstract
The concreteness effect refers to the advantage in speed and accuracy of processing concrete words over abstract words. Previous studies have shown that the processing of the two types of words is mediated by distinct neural mechanisms, but these studies were mainly conducted with task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging. This study investigates the associations between the concreteness effect and grey matter volume (GMV) of brain regions as well as resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of these identified regions. The results show that the GMV of left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), right middle temporal gyrus (MTG), right supplementary motor area and right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) negatively correlates with the concreteness effect. The rsFC of the left IFG, the right MTG and the right ACC with the nodes, mainly in default mode network, frontoparietal network and dorsal attention network positively correlates with the concreteness effect. The GMV and rsFC jointly and respectively predict the concreteness effect in individuals. In conclusion, stronger connectivity amongst functional networks and higher coherent engagement of the right hemisphere predict a greater difference in the verbal memory of abstract and concrete words.
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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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The code used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Funding
This research was supported by grants from the National Nature Science Foundation of China (62176045), the Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2023YFS0191, 2022014), the 111 project (B12027), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (ZYGX2020FRJH014).
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JY and WL wrote the main manuscript text. WL collected data and prepared all the figures and tables. JY, WL, TZ, JZ, ZJ and LL reviewed and editted the manuscript. LL supervised the whole study.
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Appendix
Appendix
Concrete words | Abstract words | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Letter | White clouds | Violence | Aid |
Beer | Garden | Delight | Resources |
Photo | Soybean | Virtue | Interests |
Egg | Judge | Ability | Link |
Pigeon | River bank | Presentation | Effect |
Store | Nursery garden | Fame | Remnants |
Plum blossom | Stretcher | Wealth gap | Reform |
Couplet | Gemstone | Philosophy | Riot |
Planet | Tomato | Representation | Sensibility |
Straw | Rose | Intension | Illusion |
Raincoat | Paint | Talent | Opportunity |
Moon | Stool | Happiness | Mood |
Snowflake | Lantern | Setback | Security |
Chalk | Nurse | Rumor | Warfare |
Newspaper | Liver | Authority | Predicament |
Sparrow | Porcelain | Impressions | Idea |
Breast | Beard | Ending | Ambition |
Cloud | Island | Suffering | Supply |
Flame | Engine room | Enthusiasm | Trouble |
Bulb | Secretary | Beginning | Force |
Train | Floor | Outside | Aspiration |
Band | Rubber | Dignity | Example |
Father | Pointer | Expectation | Bias |
Honey | Wadded jacket | Utility | Miracle |
Red star | Tube | Increase | Reputation |
Sculpture | Willow | Noema | Ending |
Walnut | Dock | Esteem | Microscale |
Dessert | Crab | Disadvantage | Limit |
Throat | Beach | Effort | Vital part |
Glacier | Flower | Knowledge | Target |
Rice | Banana | Public order | Courage |
Lamp | Eyebrow | Question | Attainments |
Pineapple | Parcel | Progress | Accumulation |
Mine | Drug | Duty | Difficulty |
Shoulder pole | Bullet | Manners | Taste |
Record | Spider | Decision | Experience |
English translations of the Chinese concrete and abstract words used in the task.
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Yan, J., Li, W., Zhang, T. et al. Structural and functional neural substrates underlying the concreteness effect. Brain Struct Funct 228, 1493–1510 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-023-02668-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-023-02668-1