THE COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE OF COMPREHENSION

理解力的认知神经科学

• 批准号: 6718478
• 负责人: PHILLIP J HOLCOMB
• 金额: $ 24.41万
• 依托单位: TUFTS UNIVERSITY MEDFORD
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 1989
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1989-07-01 至 2006-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6718478
• 关键词: auditory stimulus; behavioral /social science research tag; brain electrical activity; brain mapping; comprehension; evoked potentials; functional magnetic resonance imaging; human subject; language; neural information processing; neuroanatomy; reading; semantics; speech recognition; visual perception; visual stimulus; young adult human (21-34)

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.

描述：拟议研究的目的是继续研究 人类大脑中的理解过程。主要方法将包括 记录64个头皮电极的事件相关电位（ERPs）， 受试者参与了一系列旨在挖掘特定信息的实验， 与语言理解相关的过程。此外，我们将开始 使用事件相关功能性磁共振成像（er-fMRI）方法 在数量有限的研究中， 提供了最大的希望。我们的研究有三个相关的焦点。一是 现在又用了脑功能磁共振成像来测试和阐述当前的认知 在线语言理解理论。我们认为，这种认知 神经科学方法将有助于更好地结合理解的认知理论 大脑功能的理论第二个重点是改善我们的 理解ERP的理解措施之间的关系， 认知/语言过程，他们假设反映。最终 重点是结合ERP与er-fMRI在一个选择的子集3平行 在相同的主题中使用相同的范例的实验。数据 将在数量上结合起来，制作时空图， 为功能性神经解剖学的时间进程提供了更深入的见解 潜在的语言理解。拟议的实验将检查 三个理解层次的语言过程。1.字级 问题研究在四个实验中，我们提出了调查的假设， 通过记录词汇的ERPs和er-fMRI数据，探讨N400的功能意义 单独呈现。2.句子水平研究。在五个实验中，我们将 测试有关过程的假设参与识别单词在自然口语 句子和三个ERP组件的功能意义，认为 反映了语义/语用和句法过程 理解力3.话语层面的研究。在一系列的十个实验中， 我将研究四种用于理解大于 一句话。我们将测试的理论，如何将代词， 他们的参照物，在句子之间进行推理，理解隐喻， 在文本中使用句子内和句子之间的连贯性。虽然拟议的 实验将在正常的年轻成年受试者中进行，其中一个目标是 研究的目的是为认知和语言研究提供一个框架 在语言障碍的成人和儿童的过程中。