Cortex
Volume 46, Issue 2 , Pages 185-205, February 2010

The orthography-specific functions of the left fusiform gyrus: Evidence of modality and category specificity

  • Kyrana Tsapkini

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cognitive Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
    • Department of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Cognitive Science, Johns Hopkins University, Krieger Hall, Room 237A, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-2685, USA.
    • ,
  • Brenda Rapp

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cognitive Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
    • Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

Received 29 April 2008; received in revised form 17 June 2008 and 16 November 2008; accepted 16 February 2009. published online 12 May 2009.

Action editor Stefano Cappa

Abstract 

We report on an investigation of the cognitive functions of an individual with a resection of the left fusiform gyrus. This individual and a group of control participants underwent testing to examine the question of whether or not there are neural substrates within the left fusiform gyrus that are dedicated to orthographic processing. We evaluated the modality specificity (written vs spoken language) and the category specificity (written language vs other visual categories) of this individual's impairments. The results clearly reveal deficits affecting lexical processes in both reading and spelling. Specifically, we find disruption of normal, rapid access to meaning from print in reading and of accurate retrieval of the spellings of words from their meaning in writing. These deficits stand in striking contrast with intact processing of spoken language and categories of visual stimuli such as line drawings of objects and faces. The modality and category specificity of the deficits provide clear evidence of neural substrates within the left-mid-fusiform gyrus that are specialized and necessary for normal orthographic processing.

Keywords: Fusiform gyrus, VWFA, Reading, Spelling, Orthographic processing

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PII: S0010-9452(09)00111-7

doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2009.02.025

Cortex
Volume 46, Issue 2 , Pages 185-205, February 2010

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