Semantic memory is the brain's ability to store and retrieve knowledge about the world, essential for human behavior and culture. Recent neuroimaging studies reveal that semantic memory involves both modality-specific systems (like sensory, motor, and emotional systems) and supramodal regions, such as the inferior parietal lobe and temporal lobe, which integrate information from multiple perceptual streams. These supramodal regions support abstract conceptual functions, including object recognition, social cognition, language, and the ability to mentally simulate past and future events. Semantic memory is crucial for human culture, science, literature, and social institutions. It underlies reasoning, planning, and memory, and is supported by a network of brain regions that include the inferior parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and prefrontal cortex. Functional imaging data show that these regions are involved in semantic processing and are affected in conditions like semantic dementia, where patients experience difficulties in retrieving semantic information. The brain uses both modality-specific and supramodal representations for semantic processing. Modality-specific representations involve sensory, motor, and emotional systems, while supramodal representations are abstract and support higher-level conceptual functions. Evidence from patients with semantic dementia and functional imaging studies supports the idea that supramodal regions are essential for semantic memory. The article proposes a model of semantic processing that integrates empirical and theoretical findings, suggesting that semantic memory involves both modality-specific and supramodal representations. This model highlights the role of the inferior parietal lobe and temporal lobe in semantic processing and emphasizes the importance of these regions in supporting abstract conceptual functions. The study also discusses the overlap between semantic processing and other cognitive functions, such as social cognition, episodic memory, and prospection. The findings suggest that semantic memory is a complex process involving multiple brain regions and that understanding it requires integrating various lines of research.Semantic memory is the brain's ability to store and retrieve knowledge about the world, essential for human behavior and culture. Recent neuroimaging studies reveal that semantic memory involves both modality-specific systems (like sensory, motor, and emotional systems) and supramodal regions, such as the inferior parietal lobe and temporal lobe, which integrate information from multiple perceptual streams. These supramodal regions support abstract conceptual functions, including object recognition, social cognition, language, and the ability to mentally simulate past and future events. Semantic memory is crucial for human culture, science, literature, and social institutions. It underlies reasoning, planning, and memory, and is supported by a network of brain regions that include the inferior parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and prefrontal cortex. Functional imaging data show that these regions are involved in semantic processing and are affected in conditions like semantic dementia, where patients experience difficulties in retrieving semantic information. The brain uses both modality-specific and supramodal representations for semantic processing. Modality-specific representations involve sensory, motor, and emotional systems, while supramodal representations are abstract and support higher-level conceptual functions. Evidence from patients with semantic dementia and functional imaging studies supports the idea that supramodal regions are essential for semantic memory. The article proposes a model of semantic processing that integrates empirical and theoretical findings, suggesting that semantic memory involves both modality-specific and supramodal representations. This model highlights the role of the inferior parietal lobe and temporal lobe in semantic processing and emphasizes the importance of these regions in supporting abstract conceptual functions. The study also discusses the overlap between semantic processing and other cognitive functions, such as social cognition, episodic memory, and prospection. The findings suggest that semantic memory is a complex process involving multiple brain regions and that understanding it requires integrating various lines of research.