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@ARTICLE{AchmedAli:284076,
      author       = {Achmed Ali, Sorit and Leelaarporn, Pitshaporn and
                      Stirnberger, Rüdiger and Bilzer, Maren and Abdel Kafi,
                      Nadja and Taube, Julia and Sagik, Yilmaz and McCormick,
                      Cornelia},
      title        = {{S}eeing more than schemas: the vm{PFC} represents
                      imagery-rich mental scenarios.},
      journal      = {Neuropsychologia},
      volume       = {222},
      issn         = {0028-3932},
      address      = {Amsterdam [u.a.]},
      publisher    = {Elsevier Science},
      reportid     = {DZNE-2026-00084},
      pages        = {109370},
      year         = {2026},
      abstract     = {Mental imagery varies dramatically across individuals, from
                      vivid scene construction to the complete absence of visual
                      experience, as seen in aphantasia. While the ventromedial
                      prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is traditionally associated with
                      abstract, schematic representations, emerging theories
                      suggest it also contributes to constructing perceptually
                      rich, temporally extended mental scenarios. To test this, we
                      developed a 7T fMRI experiment that varied imagery demands
                      across conditions: participants memorized richly detailed
                      scenarios, more constrained stationary objects, and semantic
                      definitions for three abstract German words (e.g., hope).
                      During scanning and eye-tracking, the same cue word was
                      presented on every trial, but participants vividly
                      re-engaged with one of three learned representations
                      (scenario construction, object construction, or semantic
                      definitions). Using the same word across conditions enabled
                      us to disentangle perceptual richness from semantic
                      scaffolding and to test directly whether vmPFC represents
                      imagery-rich scenarios rather than functioning solely as a
                      conceptual coordinator. Univariate analyses revealed
                      increased activation in vmPFC, medial temporal regions, and
                      occipital cortex during scenario construction. Multivoxel
                      pattern analysis (MVPA) showed that the vmPFC was the only
                      region examined in which classifier accuracy for scenarios
                      exceeded that of object construction and semantic
                      definitions, supporting its role in representing
                      imagery-rich details rather than solely abstract schemas.
                      Eye movement patterns further distinguished conditions,
                      reflecting differences in constructive processes. These
                      findings advance models of vmPFC function, highlighting its
                      contribution to integrating perceptual richness with
                      conceptual meaning in temporally extended mental scenarios.},
      keywords     = {Hippocampus (Other) / Multivoxel pattern analysis (Other) /
                      Scene construction (Other) / Semantic processing (Other) /
                      Ventromedial prefrontal cortex (Other) / Visual cortex
                      (Other)},
      cin          = {Patient Studies (Bonn) / AG Spottke / Clinical Research
                      (Bonn) / AG Remy},
      ddc          = {610},
      cid          = {I:(DE-2719)1011101 / I:(DE-2719)1011103 /
                      I:(DE-2719)1011001 / I:(DE-2719)1013006},
      pnm          = {353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) / 351 -
                      Brain Function (POF4-351)},
      pid          = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-353 / G:(DE-HGF)POF4-351},
      typ          = {PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
      pubmed       = {pmid:41548754},
      doi          = {10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2026.109370},
      url          = {https://pub.dzne.de/record/284076},
}