Objective This research programme aims at understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the manipulation of meaning in the human brain. Throughout this interdisciplinary research programme four complementary research streams will run in parallel: (a) a developmental stream investigating the characteristics of semantic memory development in infants aged 12 to 36 months; (b) a bilingual stream addressing subtle differences in semantic conceptualisation resulting from the handling of different languages by one brain; (c) a nonverbal stream exploring the capacity of the human brain to process complex meaningful information that is not coded in words; and (d) an unconscious stream targeting the processing of meaning triggered by perceptually distorted stimuli processed outside of awareness. As the research programme unfolds, aspects of verbal and nonverbal semantic development in the infant will be compared to second language semantics and to nonverbal processing in the adult. Similarly, differences found between conscious and unconscious aspects of semantic processing will provide an interpretational basis for results obtained in the other three streams. At the end of this research programme an overall synthesis of data collected in the different streams will make it possible to characterize cognitive factors affecting semantic development in early and later life, which can be expected to lead to a completely novel conception of the human semantic system. The series of experiments planned and those generated in the course of this project will enable the research team to establish international leadership in the emerging field of neurosemantics. Keywords Cognitive development bilingualism conceptual categories cross-modal priming event-related potentials multi-modal neuroimaging nonverbal processing object recognition unconscious priming Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-SH3 - ERC Starting Grant - Environment and society Call for proposal ERC-2007-StG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Host institution BANGOR UNIVERSITY EU contribution € 961 958,00 Address COLLEGE ROAD LL57 2DG Bangor United Kingdom See on map Region Wales West Wales and The Valleys Gwynedd Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Guillaume Laurent Thierry (Dr.) Administrative Contact Christine Davey (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all BANGOR UNIVERSITY United Kingdom EU contribution € 961 958,00 Address COLLEGE ROAD LL57 2DG Bangor See on map Region Wales West Wales and The Valleys Gwynedd Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Guillaume Laurent Thierry (Dr.) Administrative Contact Christine Davey (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data