The　function　of　the　parahippocampal　place　area　(PPA)　is　a　matter　of　debate.　We　investigated　this　issue　in　fMRI　experiment　by　36　normal　subjects　using　two　types　of　tasks:　figure　and　text.　Furthermore,　the　figure　tasks　contain　two　kinds　of　contextual　associations:　one　is　among　items;　the　other　is　among　items　and　their　locations　which　refers　to　the　spatial　contextual　associations.　In　contrast,　the　text　tasks　contain　only　item　contextual　associations　-　they　do　not　have　any　spatial　information.　The　results　showed　that　the　right　PPA　located　at　anterior　lingual　gyrus　and　left　anterior　parahippocampal　gyrus　nearby　amygdala　were　significantly　activated　during　both　figure　and　text　tasks,　which　indicate　that　the　PPA　is　more　involved　in　associative　information　processing.　©　2012　Springer-Verlag.