On the embodied nature of material processes: Neural correlates of action language

Systemic-functional linguistics (SFL) posits a semantic distinction between processes and participants, which is typically manifested as by the lexicogrammatical contrast between verbs and nouns. Moreover, the theory distinguishes among several process types, such as material and mental processes. Choices available within the so-called ideation base have been shown to possess cognitive plausibility, but virtually no studies seem to have addressed the neurological basis of such distinction –the only apparent exception being Melrose (2005). To foster progress in this direction, this presentation brings together relevant behavioral, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological studies conducted with both neurotypical and brain-damaged participants. First, the evidence points to a neural dissociation between processes/verbs and participants/nouns. Second, converging data highlight the neural differentiation between processes/verbs of doing processes/verbs of sensing. Unlike the latter, processes/verbs of doing seem to be depend crucially on the basal ganglia and frontal regions implicated in motor processing. These findings have noteworthy clinical implications and suggest a fruitful avenue of interaction between SFL and cognitive neuroscience.