Visuospatial complexity modulates reading in the brain

Neurocognitive processing of orthographic visuospatial complexity was examined through fMRI-based overt naming (n = 16) of phonologically transparent, high and low frequency Hindi/Devanagari words that were visually simple (पालक, चातक) or complex (, चकली). Participants' overt behavior was modestly influenced by visuospatial complexity (accuracy: main effect p = .01, complexity × frequency interaction p < .07), while neuroimaging data revealed a robust effect of complexity (main effect FWE p < 10−4, complexity × frequency interaction FWE p < 7 × 10−8). Interaction-based RoIs showed higher BOLD response in the VWFA to complex and left posterior temporal cortex to simple words, with greater right lingual de-activation to complex than simple words. Subtractions confirmed additional recruitment of VWFA, right frontal, inferior orbitofrontal, mid-temporal pole and left cerebellum by visuospatially complex over simple words. Finally, low frequency words activated bilateral occipital and putamen areas, left IPL, SPL, IFG and VWFA, suggesting that effortful phonological processing in alphasyllabic Hindi/Devanagari requires neural resources specialized for both visuospatially simple and complex orthographies.