Spatial language in normal and aphasic subjects

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的中心目标是描述人类如何概念化和标记空间事件。人类识别世界上发生的事件，并使用语言来传达有关这些事件的信息。这个世界对单词的映射是如何发生的？知觉、知觉范畴和语言空间表征之间的联系是什么？在处理这些问题时，我们将测试一组嵌套假设，假设空间事件（例如）被分解为静态和动态以及内在和外在空间信息。这些类型的空间信息沿梯度表示，从具体的和感性的到抽象的和概念性的。该系统还被设计为既能识别特定的空间事件，又能从特定的实例推广到一般的类别。我们将使用双管齐下的策略在我们的两个具体目标中测试这些假设。首先，我们将检验空间事件的神经中介被分解为运动方式（内在）和路径和位置（外在）信息的假设。在感知上，这两种信息分别与人类的颞叶/MST和额顶叶网络相关联。此外，每个领域都具有从感知到概念再到语言表达的梯度的功能解剖组织。其次，我们将验证内在和外在空间信息可以被脑损伤选择性地破坏的假设。这些感知和认知系统将选择性地容易受到破坏，这取决于损害是发生在后外侧颞叶网络还是额顶叶网络。这些研究将进一步扩展我们对传统上未被调查的失语患者所经历的关系思维障碍的认识。此外，我们计划推进基于体素的病变症状分析技术，以建立失语受试者的功能神经解剖学。总之，我们计划利用成像和神经语言学研究来促进我们对语言空间概念的理解。我们的目标是在认知语言学、功能神经影像学和神经心理学中建立空间认知这方面的交汇点，并进一步了解失语症受试者所经历的缺陷。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The central aim of this proposal is to characterize how humans conceptualize and label spatial events. Humans recognize events that occur in the world and use language to communicate information about these events. How does this world to word mapping occur? What are the links between perception, perceptual categories and linguistic spatial representations? In approaching these questions, we will test a set of nested hypotheses postulating that spatial events (for speaking) are decomposed into static and dynamic as well as intrinsic and extrinsic spatial information. These kinds of spatial information are represented along a gradient, ranging from the concrete and perceptual to the abstract and conceptual. The system is also designed to both recognize specific spatial events and be able to generalize from specific instances to general categories. We will use a two-pronged strategy to test these hypotheses in our 2 specific aims. First, we will test the hypothesis that the neural mediation of spatial events is decomposed into manner of motion (intrinsic) and path and locative (extrinsic) information. Perceptually, these two kinds of information are linked to human MT/MST and fronto-parietal networks respectively. Furthermore, each domain has a functional anatomic organization with a gradient ranging from perception to conception to linguistic expression. Second, we will test the hypothesis that intrinsic and extrinsic spatial information can be selectively disrupted by brain damage. These perceptual and cognitive systems will be selectively vulnerable to disruption depending on whether damage occurs within postero-lateral temporal or fronto-parietal networks. These studies will further expand our knowledge of disabilities in relational thinking experienced by aphasic patients that are not traditionally investigated. Furthermore, we plan to advance voxel based lesion symptom analytic techniques in establishing the functional neuroanatomy in aphasic subjects. In summary, we plan to use imaging and neurolinguistic studies to advance our understanding of spatial concepts for language. Our goal is to establish points of convergence in this aspect of spatial cognition across cognitive linguistics, functional neuroimaging and neuropsychology, and to further our understanding of the deficits experienced by aphasic subjects.