To　investigate　the　role　of　lateral　inferior　prefrontal　cortex　(LIPFC)　during　information　retrieval,　we　used　two　tasks　based　on　the　phenomenon　of　basic-level　advantage　and　its　reversal　to　examine　the　activities　in　this　region　across　tasks.　As　expected,　this　region　was　involved　in　both　tasks　during　the　processing　of　information　retrieval.　ROI　analysis　showed　there　was　a　stronger　activation　in　word-picture　matching　(WP)　task　in　LIPFC　than　that　in　picture-word　matching　(PW)　task.　Moreover,　although　as　for　the　behavioral　performance,　we　observed　a　typical　basic-level　advantage　effect　in　PW　task　and　the　reversal　advantage　effect　to　more　general　level　in　WP　task,　the　activities　in　left　LIPFC　were　similar　across　the　tasks,　which　was　not　consistent　with　our　expectation.　The　intensity　was　weakest　in　the　condition　of　intermediate　level,　and　the　differences　between　intermediate　and　other　two　levels　reached　significant　level　in　WP　task.　These　results　suggested　the　region　of　LIPFC　controlled　retrieval　of　knowledge　information,　and　the　activation　in　LIPFC　depended　more　on　internal　memory　system,　not　the　external　task　demand.　©　2011　Springer-Verlag.