Objective How is information organized in the brain? Does our understanding of everyday concepts rely on our perceptual experience, and our ability to sense them? And can this uncover how abstract information is coded in our brains?These puzzles are at core of cognitive neuroscience and brain organization. Two major theoretical bodies differ in their account of neural concept organization: Classical cognitive theories propose that concepts are symbolic and non-sensory, and are further linked to sensory-motor aspects, whereas embodied cognition theories (e.g. mirror neuron system theory) postulate that concepts are represented only in a sensory-motor manner, and representations depend on the ability to simulate, re-enact, its perceptual process or action. To address this contradictory account of concepts organization, a systematic interdisciplinary neuroimaging investigation will be conducted in a combination of special populations, each deprived from birth from an entire sensory modality or ability. The neural correlates of impossible-to-embody concepts will be studied in congenitally blind (e.g. rainbow), deaf (e.g. jazz) and ULD subjects (born without functional hands; e.g. manually handles tools). Brain responses will be analyzed using multiple, state-of-the-art neuroimaging decoding techniques to reveal brain areas representation content and dependence on sensory experience. The neural networks of such concepts will be charted, to investigate the link between abstract thought and sensory inputs. A novel non-linear measurement method to quantity the richness of representations will be developed and applied to the sensorily-deprived groups, to map the dimensions related to specific sensory modalities. At the final stage, these methods will also be applied to study the developing brain in children.The findings have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of brain organization and pave the road towards rehabilitation of multiple sensory and cognitive deficits. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologycognitive neurosciencemedical and health sciencesclinical medicinephysiotherapymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologyimplantsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencecomputational intelligence Keywords concept knowledge abstract concrete vision audition motor neuroscience sensory deprivation brain organization embodied cognition development plasticity autism Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2014-GF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-GF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV Net EU contribution € 263 385,00 Address . 84105 Beer Sheva Israel See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 263 385,00 Partners (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE United States Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE 1350 02138 Cambridge See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 172 130,40