Spatial language in normal and aphasic subjects

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的主要目的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。这个世界到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？在接近这些问题，我们将测试一组嵌套的假设，假设空间事件（说话）分解成静态和动态以及内在和外在的空间信息。这些类型的空间信息沿着梯度表示，从具体的、感知的到抽象的、概念的。该系统还被设计为既能识别特定的空间事件，又能从特定实例概括为一般类别。我们将使用双管齐下的策略来测试我们的两个具体目标中的这些假设。首先，我们将测试的假设，空间事件的神经调解被分解为运动方式（内在）和路径和位置（外在）的信息。在知觉上，这两种信息分别与人类的MT/MST和额顶网络相联系。此外，每个领域都有一个功能解剖组织，其梯度范围从感知到概念到语言表达。其次，我们将测试的假设，内在和外在的空间信息可以选择性地破坏脑损伤。这些感知和认知系统将选择性地容易受到破坏，这取决于损伤是否发生在后外侧颞叶或额顶叶网络内。这些研究将进一步扩大我们的知识，失语症患者经历的关系思维障碍，传统上没有调查。此外，我们计划推进基于体素的病变症状分析技术，建立失语症患者的功能神经解剖学。总之，我们计划使用成像和神经语言学研究来推进我们对语言空间概念的理解。我们的目标是建立跨认知语言学，功能性神经影像学和神经心理学的空间认知这方面的汇合点，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.