Encoding in the Visual Word Form Area: An fMRI Adaptation Study of Words versus Handwriting
Abstract
Written texts are not just words but complex multidimensional stimuli, including aspects such as case, font, and handwriting style, for example. Neuropsychological reports suggest that left fusiform lesions can impair the reading of text for word (lexical) content, being associated with alexia, whereas right-sided lesions may impair handwriting recognition. We used fMRI adaptation in 13 healthy participants to determine if repetition-suppression occurred for words but not handwriting in the left visual word form area (VWFA) and the reverse in the right fusiform gyrus. Contrary to these expectations, we found adaptation for handwriting but not for words in both the left VWFA and the right VWFA homologue. A trend to adaptation for words but not handwriting was seen only in the left middle temporal gyrus. An analysis of anterior and posterior subdivisions of the left VWFA also failed to show any adaptation for words. We conclude that the right and the left fusiform gyri show similar patterns of adaptation for handwriting, consistent with a predominantly perceptual contribution to text processing.
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The automaticity of typing reduces the level of neural engagement necessary for deeper cognitive processing, potentially leading to diminished memory retention compared with handwriting.
“Barton et al. [32] and Tremblay et al. [41] suggest that the automaticity of typing reduces the level of neural engagement necessary for deeper cognitive processing, potentially leading to diminished memory retention compared with handwriting.”
From The Neuroscience Behind Writing: Handwriting vs. Typing—Who Wins the Battle? (2025) · cites this paper as [32]
The left occipitotemporal cortex is involved in the perceptual processing of generic visual features present in all visual stimuli including words, objects, letters and faces.
“A second perspective is that the left occipitotemporal cortex is involved in the perceptual processing of generic visual features that are present to varying degrees in all visual stimuli including words, objects, letters and faces (Barton et al., 2010; Mei et al., 2010; Braet et al., 2011; Reinke et al., 2008).”
From A review and synthesis of the first 20years of PET and fMRI studies of heard speech, spoken language and reading (2012) · cites this paper as Barton et al., 2010
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References 87 · Cited by 49
- Authors
- Barton, J. J. S., Fox, C. J., Sekunova, A., & Iaria, G.
- Affiliations
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Venue
- Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
- Publisher
- MIT Press - Journals
- Published
- 2010-08-01
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1649-1661
- ISSN
- 0898-929X (ISSN-L)
- 1530-8898
- OpenAlex
- W2085721366
- Cited by
- 49
- References
- 87
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 9.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (77615_1)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Reading and Literacy Development
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
- Keywords
- visual word form area, repetition suppression, fMRI adaptation, handwriting recognition, word recognition, fusiform gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, text processing, alexia, hemispheric lateralization
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Physiological, Adult, Brain Mapping, Female, Handwriting, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Oxygen, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Photic Stimulation, Psychomotor Performance, Time Factors, Visual Cortex, Vocabulary, Young Adult
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