The Neuroscience of Word Meaning

Author:   David Kemmerer (Purdue University, Indiana)
Publisher:   Cambridge University Press
ISBN:  

9781009436366


Pages:   240
Publication Date:   19 March 2026
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   Not yet available, will be POD   Availability explained
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon it's release. This is a print on demand item which is still yet to be released.

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The Neuroscience of Word Meaning


Overview

Words are among the basic building blocks of language, allowing us to share a tremendous range of ideas. This book summarizes research on how words are represented, organized, and processed in our brain, offering a fascinating window into the neural basis of language. It begins with a foundational overview of linguistics and neuroscience, including neurons, networks and functional areas. It then delves into key topics and theories. It explores such questions as How do the meanings of words for objects and events relate to the brain regions involved in perception and action? Are different semantic categories of words, like those for animals and tools, segregated in the brain? What are the neural substrates of abstract words? The book describes how different theories answer these questions, and how numerous experiments help adjudicate between them. It also includes learning objectives, chapter summaries, and over 60 figures.

Full Product Details

Author:   David Kemmerer (Purdue University, Indiana)
Publisher:   Cambridge University Press
Imprint:   Cambridge University Press
ISBN:  

9781009436366


ISBN 10:   1009436368
Pages:   240
Publication Date:   19 March 2026
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available, will be POD   Availability explained
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon it's release. This is a print on demand item which is still yet to be released.

Table of Contents

List of Figures; Preface; 1. What are Word Meanings?; 2. How Does the Brain Work?; 3. Experiential Foundations: Are Word Meanings Grounded in Modal Networks of Sensory and Motor Areas?; 4. Semantic Hubs: Are Word Meanings Integrated in Transmodal Networks of Association Areas?; 5. Bags of Words: Do We Know Words by the Company they Keep?; 6. Organizing Concepts: Is There a Thesaurus in the Brain?; 7. The Semantic Stratosphere: How are Abstract Words Represented in the Brain?; 8. Final Words; References; Index

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Author Information

David Kemmerer has been a professor at Purdue University since 2000. He explores the complex relationships between semantics, grammar, perception, and action, often combining neuroscientific and crosslinguistic perspectives. He is the author of Concepts in the Brain (2009) and Cognitive Neuroscience of Language (2nd edition 2022).

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