Nigel Flower

Our results link neural mechanisms to semantic theories of quantification (like Restricted Quantification). This helps bridge formal linguistics and neurobiology of language.

This suggests that the brain represents aspects of quantifier meaning that are not explicitly represented in canonical theories of quantifier semantics.

🧠 We found that activity in the LATL tracks whether a determiner expresses a referential domain — that is, how a set of individuals is mentally represented — rather than a simple logical intersection of sets.

We used MEG with rapid parallel visual presentation of quantified sentences (e.g., “all cats are nice” vs. “some cats are nice”) to isolate brain signals linked to quantifier processing.

Quantifiers are everywhere in language — but understanding how the brain builds their meaning has been difficult because their interpretation depends on entire sentence contexts. These aren’t just words — they shape meaning structures.

🚀 New paper out now in Cognition! In it, we show how the left anterior temporal lobe (LATL) contributes to interpreting quantifiers like all, some, and no during language comprehension.

doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2025.106403