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Modulating lexical and semantic processing by transcranial direct current stimulation

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Abstract

Here we aim to evaluate the ability of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which is applied over Wernicke’s area and its right homologue, to influence lexical decisions and semantic priming and establish an involvement for temporo-parietal areas in lexical and semantic processing. Thirty-two subjects (17 women) completed a lexical decision task and a semantic priming task while receiving 20 min of bilateral tDCS stimulation (right anodal/left cathodal or left anodal/right cathodal stimulation) or sham stimulation. We hypothesized that right anodal/left cathodal stimulation over temporo-parietal areas would selectively interrupt the typical lexical processing dominance of the left hemisphere and facilitate mediated priming, while left anodal/right cathodal stimulation would selectively facilitate lexical processing and direct priming. Results showed impaired lexical processing under right anodal/left cathodal stimulation in comparison with sham and left anodal/right cathodal stimulation. Results are discussed in light of previous findings and hemispheric lateralization models.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Israeli Academy of Sciences grant no. 100/10, the Israeli Center of Research Excellence (I-CORE) in Cognition (I-CORE Program 51/11), and an ERC starting grant which was awarded to ML (Inspire 200512).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, 52900, Ramat Gan, Israel

    Keren Weltman & Michal Lavidor

  2. The Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel

    Michal Lavidor

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK

    Michal Lavidor

Authors
  1. Keren Weltman
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  2. Michal Lavidor
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Correspondence to Michal Lavidor.

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 4.

Table 4 Word stimuli for the semantic priming task
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Weltman, K., Lavidor, M. Modulating lexical and semantic processing by transcranial direct current stimulation. Exp Brain Res 226, 121–135 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-013-3416-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-013-3416-5

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