On the neural basis of word reading: A meta-analysis of fMRI evidence using activation likelihood estimation

Publication date: February 2019Source: Journal of Neurolinguistics, Volume 49Author(s): K.A. Murphy, J. Jogia, J.B. TalcottAbstractThe neural networks that support normal single word reading have been studied extensively with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and been heavily meta analysed; yet two caveats persist. Firstly, inclusion criteria are generally broad, allowing for a range of studies with inconsistent methodological practices to become a major source of variance in the data. Secondly, the sophistication of meta analytic techniques are ever improving, calling for a continuation of quantitative summaries for more informed interpretations of the literature. We conducted a novel meta-analysis using the updated activation likelihood estimation (ALE) approach on fMRI data from 345 native English speakers published from 1992 to 2014, comparing neural correlates between single word reading (SWR); and lexical decision tasks (LDT). SWR paradigms activated a highly predictable, left lateralised reading network, whereas LDT, did not; and instead, fewer clusters overall were found in bilateral regions associated with orthographic, semantic and decision making processes, as well as traces of eye and hand movements. A conjunction analysis conducted on shared LDT/SWR activations found left fusiform and right inferior frontal gyral (IFG) regions to be common to both tasks; but an overlapping right inferior, precentral and middle frontal cluster to be specific to LDT. The...
Source: Journal of Neurolinguistics - Category: Speech-Language Pathology Source Type: research