Mechanisms of Word Retrieval in Spoken Language Production

关于语言处理背后的认知和神经过程的基本问题仍未得到解答。所有语言处理的认知和神经理论都必须回答的一个问题是，说话者如何能够在口语生成过程中，从她知道的成千上万个单词中快速有效地检索给定的单词。所提议的研究活动的目标是测试以下假设：1)系统如何决定应该说出哪个单词，以及2)系统如何确定应该在什么时候选择该单词进行演讲。这项研究活动包括一系列的实验，在这些实验中，反应延迟被用来检验有关语言产生的认知过程的假设。实验对象分别是美国罗切斯特大学的英语母语人士和意大利帕多瓦大学的意大利语母语人士。此外，帕多瓦大学将进行一项关于显性语言产生过程的脑电图（EEG）研究，罗彻斯特大学将进行一项平行的功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）研究。这两项神经学研究将回答一些基本的问题，这些问题涉及到显性言语产生过程中词汇检索的时间和解剖组织。为了实现这项研究活动的目标，我们将探讨支持单词检索和口语生成的认知和神经过程的基本性质。这将对脑损伤患者语言能力的康复、促进第二语言习得的协议的改进产生影响，并将对语言处理的计算模型施加重要的限制。此外，本科生和研究生将有机会参加国际交流计划，以扩大他们的研究技能和兴趣。

Basic questions remain unanswered about the cognitive and neural processes that underlie language processing. One issue that all cognitive and neural theories of language processing must answer is how a speaker is able to quickly and efficiently retrieve a given word during spoken language production, from the tens of thousands of words that she knows. The goal of the proposed research activity is to test hypotheses about i) how the system resolves which word should be uttered, and ii) how the system determines when that word should be selected for speech. The proposed research activity involves a series of experiments in which response latency is used to test hypotheses about the cognitive processes involved in language production. Experiments are conducted with native English speakers at the University of Rochester (USA) as well as with native Italian Speakers at the University of Padova (Italy). In addition, an Electroencephalography (EEG) study of the processes underlying overt language production will be conducted at the University of Padova and a parallel functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) study will be conducted at the University of Rochester. These two neural studies will answer basic questions about the temporal and anatomical organization of the processes involved in retrieving words in overt speech production.Fulfillment of the aims of this research activity will address the fundamental nature of the cognitive and neural processes that support word retrieval spoken language production. This will have implications for rehabilitation of language abilities in brain damaged patients, improvement of protocols for facilitating the acquisition of second languages, and will place important constraints on computational models of language processing. Furthermore, undergraduate and graduate students will have the opportunity to participate in an international exchange program to expand their research skills and interests.