Involvement of the posterior tool processing network during explicit retrieval of action tool and semantic tool knowledge: an fMRI study

Our ability to understand how to interact with familiar objects is supported by conceptual tool knowledge. Conceptual tool knowledge includes action tool and semantic tool knowledge which are supported by the ventro-dorsal and the ventral pathways, respectively. This apparent functional segregation has been recently called into question. In a block-design fMRI study, 35 participants were asked to complete manipulation, function, and association judgment tasks about pairs of familiar objects. Our results showed that lateral occipitotemporal cortex in the ventral pathway was more sensitive to manipulation and function judgment tasks compared with association judgment tasks. Functional connectivity analyses revealed distinct coupling patterns between inferior parietal lobule, lateral occipitotemporal cortex, and fusiform gyrus. Taken together, these data indicate that action tool and semantic tool knowledge are both supported by ventral and ventro-dorsal pathways. Moreover, the explicit retrieval of these representations is supported by the functional coupling of common and distinct brain regions of the posterior tool processing network varying according to the kind of relations to be retrieved.

Automated summary

Our ability to interact with familiar objects is supported by conceptual tool knowledge. The ventro-dorsal and ventral pathways support action tool and semantic tool knowledge. However, recent studies have started to question this functional segregation. By conducting an fMRI study, we found that the lateral occipitotemporal cortex in the ventral pathway is more sensitive to manipulation and function judgment tasks than association judgment tasks. In addition, our functional connectivity analysis revealed distinct coupling patterns between different brain regions involved in tool processing.