Skip to main content

Distinctive neural signatures for negative sentences in Hindi: an fMRI study

Brain Imaging and Behavior volume 7, pages 91–101 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

We examined cortical activations using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique in skilled native Hindi readers while they performed a ‘target-probe’ semantic judgment task on affirmative and negative sentences. Hindi, an Indo-Aryan language widely spoken in India, follows subject-object-verb (SOV) order canonically but allows free word order. The common cortical regions involved in affirmative and negative sentence conditions included bilateral inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), left parietal cortex (BA 7/40), left fusiform (BA 37), bilateral supplementary motor area (SMA) (BA 6), bilateral middle temporal gyrus (BA 21), and bilateral occipital area (BA 17/18). While no distinct region was activated for affirmative sentences, we observed activations in the region of bilateral anterior temporal pole for negative sentence. The behavioral results showed no significant mean difference for reaction times (RT) and accuracy measures between affirmative and negative sentences. However, the imaging results suggest the recruitment of anterior temporal pole in processing of negative sentences. Region of interest (ROI) analysis for selected regions showed higher signal intensity for negative sentences possibly indicating the associated inherent difficulty level of processing, especially when integrating information related to negations.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

£ 29.95

Price includes VAT (United Kingdom)

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

References

  • Bahlmann, J., Mueller, J. L., Makuuchi, M., & Friederici, A. D. (2011). Perisylvian functional connectivity during processing of sentence negation. Frontiers in Psychology/Language Science, 2(104), 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bashir, E. (2003). “Na” and “Nahi” in Hindi and Urdu. Paper presented at South Asian Languages Analysis Roundtable (SALA) 23.

  • Bates, E., Wilson, S. M., Saygin, A. P., Dick, F., Sereno, M. I., Knight, R. T., et al. (2003). Voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping. Nature Neuroscience, 6(5), 448–450.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhatia, T. (1995). Negation in South Asian languages. Patiala: Indian Institute of Language Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binder, J. R., Gross, W. L., Allendorfer, J. B., Bonilha, L., Chapin, J., Edwards, J. C., et al. (2011). Mapping anterior temporal lobe language areas with fMRI: a multicenter normative study. Neuroimage, 54(2), 1465–1475.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bookheimer, S. Y. (2002). Functional MRI of language: new approaches to understanding the cortical organization of semantic processing. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 25(3), 151–188.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bottini, G., Corcoran, R., Sterzi, R., Paulesu, E., Schenone, P., Scarpa, P., et al. (1994). The role of the right hemisphere in the interpretation of figurative aspects of language: a positron emission tomography activation study. Brain, 117(6), 1241–1253.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brett, M., Anton, J-L., Valabregue, R., & Poline, J-B. (2002). Region of interest analysis using an SPM toolbox [abstract] Presented at the 8th International Conference on Functional Mapping of the Human Brain.

  • Carpenter, P. A., & Just, M. A. (1975). Sentence comprehension: a psycholinguistic processing model of verification. Psychological Review, 82(1), 45–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, P. A., Just, M. A., Keller, T. A., Eddy, W. F., & Thulborn, K. R. (1999). Time course of fMRI-activation in language and spatial networks during sentence comprehension. Neuroimage, 10(2), 216–224.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, K. R. (2009). Negative and affirmative sentences increase activation in different areas in the brain. Journal of Neurolinguistics, 22(1), 1–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, H. H., & Chase, W. G. (1972). On the process of comparing sentences against pictures. Cognitive Psychology, 3(3), 472–517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das, T., Padakannaya, P., Pugh, K. R., & Singh, N. C. (2011). Neuroimaging reveals dual routes to reading in simultaneous proficient readers of two orthographies. Neuroimage, 54(2), 1476–1487.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drane, D. L., Ojemann, G. A., Aylward, E., Ojemann, J. G., Johnson, L. C., Silbergeld, D. L., et al. (2008). Category-specific naming and recognition deficits in temporal lobe epilepsy surgical patients. Neuropsychologia, 46(5), 1242–1255.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dronkers, N. F., Wilkins, D. P., VanValin, R. D., Redfern, B. B., & Jaeger, J. J. (1994). A reconsideration of the brain areas involved in the disruption of morphosyntactic comprehension. Brain and Language, 47(3), 461–462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dronkers, N. F., Wilkins, D. P., Van Valin, R. D. Jr., Redfern, B. B., & Jaeger, J. J. (2004). Lesion analysis of the brain areas involved in language comprehension. Cognition, 92(1–2), 145–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Embick, D., Marantz, A., Miyashita, Y., O’Neil, W., & Sakai, K. L. (2000). A syntactic specialization for Broca’sarea. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 97(11), 6150–6154.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher, P. C., Happe, F., Frith, U., Baker, S. C., Dolan, R. J., Frackowiak, R. S., et al. (1995). Other minds in the brain: a functional imaging study of “theory of mind” in story comprehension. Cognition, 57(2), 109–128.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friston, K., Holmes, A. P., & Ashburner, J. (1999). Statistical Parameter Mapping (SPM).

  • Friston, K. J., Penny, W. D., & Glaser, D. E. (2005). Conjunction revisited. Neuroimage, 25(3), 661–667.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fuster, J. M. (2003). Cortex and mind: Unifying cognition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haller, S., Radue, E. W., Erb, M., Grodd, W., & Kircher, T. (2005). Overt sentence production in eventrelated fMRI. Neuropsychologia, 43(5), 807–814.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hasegawa, M., Carpenter, P. A., & Just, M. A. (2002). An fMRI study of bilingual sentence comprehension and workload. Neuroimage, 15(3), 647–660.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hickok, G., & Poeppel, D. (2004). Dorsal and ventral streams: a framework for understanding aspects of the functional anatomy of language. Cognition, 92(1–2), 67–99.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaup, B., Lüdtke, J., & Zwaan, R. A. (2006). Processing negated sentences with contradictory predicates: is a door that is not open mentally closed? Journal of Pragmatics, 38(7), 1033–1050.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaup, B., Yaxley, R. H., Madden, C. J., Zwaan, R. A., & Lüdtke, J. (2007). Experiential simulations of negated text information. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 60(7), 976–990.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, R. (2005). Two types of negative polarity items in Hindi. In K. L. Sridhar & S. N. Sridhar (Eds.), Language and linguistics in South Asia: Selected papers from SALA 24. Delhi: Manohar Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuperberg, G. R., McGuire, P. K., Bullmore, E. T., Brammer, M. J., Rabe-Hesketh, S., Wright, I. C., et al. (2000). Common and distinct neural substrates for pragmatic, semantic, and syntactic processing of spoken sentences: an fMRI study. Journal of CognitiveNeuroscience, 12(2), 321–341.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster, J. L., Tordesillas-Gutiérrez, D., Martinez, M., Salinas, F., Evans, A., Zilles, K., et al. (2007). Bias between MNI and Talairach coordinates analyzed using the ICBM-152 brain template. Human Brain Mapping, 28(11), 1194–1205.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Montaut, A. (2004). A grammar of Hindi. Muenchen: Lincom Europa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ni, W., Constable, R., Mencl, W., et al. (2000). An event-related neuroimaging study distinguishing form and content in sentence processing. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 12(1), 120–33.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nobre, A. C., Allison, T., & McCarthy, G. (1998). Modulation of human extrastriate visual processing byselective attention to colours and words. Brain, 121(7), 1357–1368.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oldfield, R. C. (1971). The assessment and analysis of handedness: the Edinburgh inventory. Neuropsychologia, 9(1), 97–113.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, K., Nestor, P., & Rogers, T. (2007). Where do you know what you know? The representation of semantic knowledge in the human brain. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 8(12), 976–987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Price, C. J. (2000). The anatomy of language: contribution from functional neuroimaging. Journal of Anatomy, 197(3), 335–359.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reichle, E. D., Carpenter, P. A., & Just, M. A. (2000). The neural basis of strategy and skill in sentence picture verification. Cognitive Psychology, 40(4), 261–295.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, L. A., & Olson, I. R. (2010). Social cognition and the anterior temporal lobes. Neuroimage, 49(4), 3452–3462.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, W. K., & Martin, A. (2009). The anterior temporal lobes and the functional architecture of semantic memory. Journal of International Neuropsychological Society, 15(5), 645–649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stowe, L. A., Paans, A. M., Wijers, A. A., Zwarts, F., Mulder, G., & Vaalburg, W. (1999). Sentence comprehension and word repetition: a positron emission tomography investigation. Psychophysiology, 36(6), 786–801.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Talairach, J., & Tournoux, P. (1988). Co-planar stereotaxic atlas of the human brain. New York: Thieme.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tettamanti, M., Manenti, R., Della, R. P. A., Falini, A., Perani, D., Cappa, S. F., et al. (2008). Negation in the brain: modulating action representations. Neuroimage, 43(2), 358–367.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tranel, D. (2009). The left temporal pole is important for the retrieval of words for unique concrete entities. Aphasiology, 23(7), 867–884.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vasishth, S. (2003). Word order, negation and negative polarity in Hindi. Research on Language and Computation, 2(1), 127–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zwaan, R. A. (2004). The immersed experiencer: Toward an embodied theory of language comprehension. In B. H. Ross (Ed.), The psychology of learning and motivation (Vol. 44, pp. 35–62). New York: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the financial support of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India to carry out this study. We would also like to thanks two anonymous referees for providing excellent and insightful comments that enabled us to improve the manuscript considerably.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroimaging, Centre of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences Campus, Lucknow, India

    Uttam Kumar & C. L Khetrapal

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Mysore, Mysore, 570 006, India

    Prakash Padakannaya

  3. Centre of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences (CBCS), University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India

    Ramesh K. Mishra

Authors
  1. Uttam Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Prakash Padakannaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ramesh K. Mishra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. L Khetrapal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Uttam Kumar.

Appendix

Appendix

Sample of sentences used in the task

Affirmative sentences

Target: MOHAN SHAHAR GAYA AUR MELA DEKHA. (Hindi)

Mohan city go (past) and fair see (past)

Mohan went to the city and saw the fair.

Probe: Mohan mela dekha. (Hindi)

Mohan fair see (past)

Mohan saw the fair.

Target: SHYAM BAZAAR GAYA AUR KITAB LAYA. (Hindi)

Shyammarket go (past) and book bring (past)

Shyam went to the market and brought a book.

Probe: Shyam bazaar gaya.(Hindi)

Shyam market go (past)

Shyam went to the market.

Target: MAANE ROTI BANAYI AUR BACHHO NE KHAAYI. (Hindi)

Mother bread make (past) and children eat (past)

Mother made bread and the children ate.

Probe: Roti bachho ne khayi. (Hindi)

Bread children eat (past)

The children ate bread.

Target: DHOBI BAZAR GAYA AUR KAPDE LAYA. (Hindi)

Washerman markets go (past) and clothes bring (past)

The washer man went to the market and brought clothes.

Probe: Dhobi kapde laya. (Hindi)

Washeman clothes bring (past)

Washer man brought the clothes.

Target: DOCTOR AAYE AUR MARIJ KO DEKHA. (Hindi)

Doctor come (past) and patient post exam (past)

The doctor came and examined the patient.

Probe: Doctor marij ko dekha. (Hindi)

Doctor patient Post see (apst)

The doctor examined the patient.

Target: SIKSHAK VIDAYLAY GAYE AUR GANIT PADHAI. (Hindi)

Teacher school go (past) and maths teach (past)

The teacher went to the school and taught maths.

Probe: Sikshak bazaar gaye. (Hindi)

Teacher market go (past)

Teacher went to the market.

Target: HALWAI GAON GAYA AUR DOODH LAYA. (Hindi)

Confectioner village go(past) and milk bring(past).

The cook went to the village and brought milk.

Probe: Halwai pani laya. (Hindi)

Confectioner water bring (past)

The cook brought water.

Target: JAHAAZ UDA AUR GAYAB HO GAYA. (Hindi)

Plane takes (past) off and disappear (past).

The plane took flight and vanished out of sight.

Probe: Jahaj dikh gaya. (Hindi)

Plane appear (past)

The plane came into sight.

Target: SHER JHAPTA AUR HIRAN KO MAR DIYA. (Hindi)

Tiger pull (past) and deer post. kill (past).

The lion pounced and killed the deer.

Probe: Hiran bhag gaya. (Hindi)

Dear run away (past)

The deer ran away.

Target: HATHI NADI PAR GAYA AUR PANI PIYA (Hindi)

Elephant river at go(past) and water drink (past).

The elephant went to the river and drank water.

Probe: Haathi phal khaya. (Hindi)

Elephant fruit eat (past)

Elephant ate the fruit.

Negative Sentences

Target: KISAN KHET PAR GAYE AUR KHETI NAHI KI. (Hindi)

Farmer field at go (past) farming not did.

The farmer went to the farm and did not do farming.

Probe: Kisanne kheti nahi ki. (Hindi)

Farmer farming not did.

The farmer didn’t do farming.

Target: BACHCHE VIDAYALAY GAYE AUR PADHAI NAHI KI. (Hindi)

Children school go (past) and study not did.

The children went to school and did not study.

Probe: Baccho ne padhai nahi ki. (Hindi)

Children study not did.

The children did not study.

Target: BAHAN DOODH LAYI AUR BHAI KO NAHI DIYA. (Hindi)

Sister milk bring (past) brother post. not serve

The sister brought milk and did not serve it to brother.

Probe: Bahan doodh nahi layi. (Hindi)

Sister milk not bring

The sister did not bring milk.

Target: CHALAK GADI LAYA AUR IDHAN NAHI DALA. (Hindi)

Driver vehicle bring (past) and fuel not fill

The driver brought the car and did not fill the fuel.

Probe: Chalak idhan nahi dala. (Hindi).

Driver fuel not fill.

The driver did not fill fuel.

Target: HALWAI DUKAN GAYA AUR CHINI NAHI LAYA. (Hindi)

Confectioner shop go (past) and sugar not bring

The cook went to the shop and did not bring sugar.

Probe: Halwai chini nahil laya. (Hindi)

Confectioner sugar not bring.

The cook didn’t bring sugar.

Target: BARSAT KA MAUSAM HAI AUR BARISH NAHI HUI. (Hindi)

Rainy post. season and rain not

It is rainy season and it did not rain.

Probe: Barsat ka mausam nahi hai. (Hindi)

Rain season not

It is not rainy season

Target: SAVERA HO GAYA AUR AKHBAR NAHI AAYA. (Hindi)

Morning and newspaper not come (Past)

It is morning and the newspaper did not arrive.

Probe: Savera nahi hua. (Hindi)

Morning not

It is not morning as yet.

Target: GARMI ADHIK HAI AUR PANKHA NAHI CHALTA. (Hindi)

Hot more is and fan not working

It is very hot and fan is not running.

Probe: Garmi adhik nahi hai. (Hindi)

Hot more not

It is not too hot.

Target: BUS AA GAYI AUR YATRI NAHI HAIN. (Hindi)

Bus come (past) and passenger not there.

The bus arrived and passengers are not there.

Probe: Bus nahi aayi hai. (Hindi)

Bus not come

The bus did not come.

Target: BADHAI AAJ AAYA AUR KAM NAHI KIYA. (Hindi)

Carpenter today come (past) and work not did The carpenter came today and did not work.

Probe: Badai aaj nahi aaya. (Hindi)

Carpenter today not come

The carpenter didn’t come today.

Sample of Chinese character

Target: 麦克看到了城市和公平

Probe: 迈克看着博览会

Target: 母亲和孩子吃面包

Probe: 儿童吃面包

Target: 洗衣和服装推向市场

Probe: 带来的洗衣机

Target: 农民不种田和培育基

Probe: 农民不培养基

Target: 孩子去上学,而不是学习

Probe: 儿童没有研究

*=Post = postposition

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kumar, U., Padakannaya, P., Mishra, R.K. et al. Distinctive neural signatures for negative sentences in Hindi: an fMRI study. Brain Imaging and Behavior 7, 91–101 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-012-9198-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-012-9198-8

Keywords

  • Hindi
  • Affirmative sentence
  • Negative sentence
  • Target-probe semantic judgment task
  • Anterior temporal pole
  • fMRI