Alecia C. Vogel|Steven E. Petersen|Bradley L. Schlaggar
The VWFA: it's not just for words anymore
Washington University in St. Louis|Washington University in St. Louis|Washington University in St. Louis
reading important phylogenetically new skill neuroimaging studies identified brain regions used reading unclear extent regions become specialized use predominantly reading versus tasks past several years group published three studies addressing question particularly focusing whether putative visual word form area vwfa used predominantly reading whether used generally number tasks three studies utilize range neuroimaging techniques including task based fmri experiments seed based resting state functional connectivity rsfc experiment network based rsfc experiment overall studies indicate vwfa used specifically even predominantly reading rather vwfa general use region processing properties making particularly useful reading though continues used task requires general processing properties network based rsfc analysis extends finding regions typically thought used predominantly reading review findings describe three studies complement argue conceptualizing vwfa brain region specific processing characteristics rather brain region devoted specific stimulus class allows us better explain activity seen region variety tasks type conceptualization provides better understanding vwfa also provides framework understanding brain regions affords explanation function keeping long history studying brain terms type information processing performed posner 1978