THE COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE OF COMPREHENSION

描述：拟议研究的目的是继续我们的研究 人脑中的理解过程。主要方法将需要 头皮电极事件相关电位的记录 受试者参与了一系列旨在获取特定信息的实验 与语言理解相关的过程。此外，我们还将开始 使用事件相关功能磁共振成像(er-fMRI)方法 在有限数量的研究中，结合技术的潜力 提供了最大的希望。我们的研究有三个相关的焦点。第一个是 使用ERPS，现在是呃-fMRI。测试和阐述当前的认知 网络语言理解理论。我们认为，这种认知 神经科学方法将有助于更好地将理解的认知理论联系起来 关于大脑功能的理论。第二个重点是改善我们的 理解事件相关电位的理解能力与理解能力之间的关系 它们被假设为反映认知/语言过程。决赛 重点是在3个平行的精选子集中将ERPs与ER-FMRI相结合 将在相同的科目中使用相同范例的实验。数据 将被定量地组合在一起，以产生时空地图 对功能神经解剖学的时间进程提供更多的见解 潜在的语言理解能力。拟议中的实验将检验 跨三个理解层次的语言过程。1.词汇层面 研究。在四个实验中，我们建议研究以下假设 N400通过记录事件相关电位和ER-fMRI数据到文字的功能意义 孤立地呈现。2.句子层面的研究。在五个实验中，我们将 关于自然口语中识别单词的过程的测试假设 句子和三个ERP组件思想的功能意义 反映与以下内容相关的语义/语用和句法过程 理解。3.语篇层面的研究。在一系列的十个实验中，我们 我将介绍四种用于理解大于 一句话。我们将测试理解者如何将代词附加到 它们的参照物，在句子之间进行推理，理解隐喻和 在文章中使用句子内部和句子之间的连贯。虽然建议的 实验将在正常的青年受试者中进行，其中一个目标是 研究是为研究认知和语言提供一个框架 语言障碍成人和儿童的加工过程。

DESCRIPTION: The aim of the proposed research is to continue our study of comprehension processes in the human brain. The primary approach will entail the recording of event-related potentials (ERPs) from 64 scalp electrodes while subjects engage in a series of experiments designed to tap specific information processes associated with language comprehension. In addition we will begin to use event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (er-fMRI) methodology in a limited number of studies where the potential for combining techniques offers the greatest promise. Our research has three related foci. The first is to use ERPs, and now er-fMRI. to test and elaborate on current cognitive theories of online language comprehension. We propose that this cognitive neuroscience approach will help better tie cognitive theories of comprehension to theories of brain function. The second focus is on improving our understanding of the relationship between ERP measures of comprehension and the cognitive/linguistic processes they are hypothesized to reflect. The final focus is on combining ERPs with er-fMRI in a select subset of 3 parallel experiments which will use the same paradigms in the same subjects. The data will be quantitatively combined to produce temporo-spatial maps which will provide greater insights into the time-course of the functional neuroanatomy underlying language comprehension. The proposed experiments will examine linguistic processes across three levels of comprehension. 1. Word Level Studies. In four experiments we propose to investigate hypotheses of the functional significance of the N400 by recording ERPs and er-fMRI data to words presented in isolation. 2. Sentence Level Studies. In five experiments we will test hypotheses about processes involved in recognizing words in natural spoken sentences and the functional significance of three ERP components thought to reflect semantic/pragmatic and syntactic processes associated with comprehension. 3. Discourse Level Studies. In a series of ten experiments we will look at four devices used in comprehending pieces of text larger than single sentences. We will test theories of how comprehenders attach pronouns to their referents, make inferences between sentences, understand metaphors and use coherence within and between sentences in text. While the proposed experiments will be performed in normal young adult subjects, one goal of this research is to provide a framework for studying cognitive and language processes in language impaired adults and children.