Functional organization of the superior temporal gyrus for speech perception

项目摘要 口语理解的基本机制尚不清楚。我们不明白， 例如，人脑如何提取最基本的语言元素（辅音和元音） 复杂多变的声音信号言语的皮层表征研究 声音可能会揭示这个基本问题。先前的研究表明，上级 颞叶皮层对语音的处理然而，皮质实际上是如何代表的（即， 编码）音素是未确定的。直接从皮层表面记录神经活动是一种 这是一种很有前途的方法，因为它可以提供高的空间和时间分辨率。在这里，我建议审查 利用神经外科手术中获得的神经生理记录， 程序.高密度电极阵列、先进的信号处理和直接皮层电刺激 也将被用来解开外侧颞叶皮质中当地人群对语音的编码 作为跨多个感官和认知区域的全局处理。

PROJECT SUMMARY The basic mechanisms underlying comprehension of spoken language are unknown. We do not understand, for example, how the human brain extracts the most fundamental linguistic elements (consonants and vowels) from a complex and highly variable acoustic signal. An investigation of the cortical representation of speech sounds can likely shed light on this fundamental question. Previous research has implicated the superior temporal cortex in the processing of speech sounds. However, how the cortex actually represents (i.e. encodes) phonemes is undetermined. The recording of neural activity directly from the cortical surface is a promising approach since it can provide both high spatial and temporal resolution. Here, I propose to examine the mechanisms of phonetic encoding by utilizing neurophysiological recordings obtained during neurosurgical procedures. High-density electrode arrays, advanced signal processing, and direct electrocortical stimulation will be utilized to unravel both local population encoding of speech sounds in the lateral temporal cortex as well as global processing across multiple sensory and cognitive areas.