ABSTRACT
In the early 2000s, advances in imaging methods led to an increased interest in studying the neurobiological bases of the semantic processing of words. We provide an overview of imaging methods before discussing semantic processing in relation to the extrinsic (e.g., limitations of the neuroimaging method of capture) and intrinsic (e.g., nature of semantic features) factors that can influence results. Conclusions from research suggest that semantic processing occurs across a large, distributed neural network, and multiple features, characteristics, and representations modulate components. Although written in 2011, this chapter provides an initial overview of this area of research; it is foundational knowledge that is essential for understanding and contextualizing current research in imaging and semantic processing.
