Interactive-specialization of language development

这个项目使用最先进的功能磁共振成像(FMRI)来研究大脑如何在发育过程中变得专门学习语言。以前的功能磁共振发育研究只检查了一个年龄组，检查了广泛的年龄范围(即从幼儿园到青春期)和/或没有检查同一儿童语言处理的多个方面。该项目将通过在语言快速发展时期(5至7岁)的两个时间点对相同的人进行研究来克服以前的缺点。纵向方法(随时间跟踪同一个人)很少用于发育性大脑成像研究，但对于深入了解大脑是如何获得语言至关重要。本研究还将通过使用多语言任务来克服以往的不足，揭示大脑功能专门化的发展变化。这项研究的一个重要优势是在语言发展研究中使用行为证据来产生关于大脑发展的问题。这项研究评估了这一新的假设，即在发育早期大脑区域之间更好的联系会导致后期大脑区域的专业化程度增加。该项目将通过为一名博士后研究助理和几名本科生提供培训，将研究和教育结合起来。该项目将通过为代表不足的少数群体的高中生提供深入的实习机会，扩大代表不足群体的参与。项目传播将广泛进行，不仅通过专业期刊和会议，而且还将传播给由高中生、本科生、家长、教师和管理人员组成的受众。这个项目将从根本上促进该领域对儿童早期语言习得的神经机制的理解，同时也为未来对这个年龄段的语言障碍的研究奠定基础。

This project examines how the brain becomes specialized to learn language over development using state-of-the-art functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Previous fMRI developmental studies have only examined one age group, have examined a wide age range (i.e., from kindergarten through adolescence) and/or have not examined multiple aspects of language processing in the same children. This project will overcome previous shortcomings by studying the same individuals at two time points during a period of rapid language development (5 to 7 years of age). Longitudinal approaches (following the same individual over time) are rarely used in developmental brain imaging research, but are crucial for gaining insights into how the brain acquires language. This study will also overcome previous shortcomings by using multiple language tasks, revealing developmental changes in specialization of brain function. A significant strength of this research is the use of behavioral evidence in the study of language development to generate questions regarding brain development. The study evaluates the novel hypothesis that greater connectivity between brain regions early in development results in increasing specialization of brain regions later in development. This project will integrate research and education by providing training to a post-doctoral research associate and several undergraduate students. This project will broaden the participation of underrepresented groups by providing in depth internships for high school students from underrepresented minorities. Project dissemination will occur widely, not only through professional journals and conferences, but also to audiences consisting of high school students, undergraduates, parents, teachers and administrators. This project will fundamentally advance the field's understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying language acquisition in early childhood, while also laying the groundwork for future investigations of language impairment in this age range.