Neural basis of social concept representation and social semantic integration

Abstract: The representation and integration of social concepts is the basis of social semantic comprehension and social thinking. In recent years, it becomes a new research hotspot, bridging the gap between the neuroscience of language comprehension and social cognition. Evidence from neuroimaging and neuropsychological studies has indicated that the representation of social concepts relies on a brain network composed of the bilateral anterior temporal lobe, temporoparietal junction, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate gyrus and adjacent precuneus. Recent neuroimaging studies have indicated that the same brain areas may also support social semantic integration at different levels. Future studies should explore the semantic dimensions of social concept representation, the specific components of social semantic processing, and their impacts on human behaviors.