Files
Abstract
This study explores how human brains react to semantic roles when people are listening to an audiobook story naturally. fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) data were collected while Chinese participants were listening to an audiobook. Semantic roles were obtained from AMR (Abstract Meaning Representation) annotation results of the audiobook's text. Brain activations aroused by two main semantic roles, Agent and Patient, were compared: Agent's assignment activates left Heschl's area, right STG, right Precuneus; Patient's assignment activates broader brain regions compared with Agent, including left side SFG, Parietal, Angular, MTG, IFG, and right-side Angular and Cerebellum. Brain activation contrast between Patient and Agent showed: while human brain is processing Patient roles, higher activation can be found in left Insula, left Precuneus, and right side Angular, MFG, MTG, Insula, SFG, Cingulate, Precuneus.