Neural Basis of Gestural Communication: Evidence from Sign Language

描述(由申请人提供)：这个项目的总体目标是绘制地图。在过去的几年里，手势处理的神经基础受到了极大的关注，特别是与动作理解的镜像神经元理论有关的研究。该理论认为，手势是通过观察者的运动模拟来理解的。手语由于其极其丰富的手势系统、易于获取(而不是很难被人看到的语言手势)，以及比较语言和非语言形式的手势处理的机会，为这一问题提供了一个独特的视角。手语在发现镜像神经元的动物模型和人类语言之间架起了一座桥梁，在动物模型中发现了镜像神经元，而在人类语言模型中，对“镜像系统”的研究非常集中。这也具有重要的临床意义，因为镜像系统与一系列后天和发育障碍有关，从失用、失语到自闭症。如果治疗是基于理解的运动模拟模型来开发的，拥有关于这些主张的有效性的信息是至关重要的。手语提供了一个理想的试验场。从理论上讲，手势加工的背腹模型指导着我们的研究。因此，拟议的项目建立在一个长达数十年的手语神经基础研究计划的基础上，并有四个具体目标。目的1：应用大尺度损毁缺损图绘制聋人手语基本功能图。目的2：使用损伤和功能磁共振成像方法绘制无意义手势的知觉和产生之间的关系。目的3：使用病变和功能磁共振成像方法绘制有意义的动作和物体相关手势的识别和产生之间的关系。目的4：利用病变和功能磁共振成像方法定位哑剧和手势的识别和产生之间的关系。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall aim of this project is to map the. The neural basis of gesture processing has received a great deal of attention in the last several years, particularly in connection with the mirror neuron theory of action understanding. This theory states that gestures are understood via motor simulation in the observer. Sign language provides a unique perspective on this issue given its extremely rich gestural system, its easy accessibility (as opposed to speech gestures which are largely obscured from view), and the opportunity to compare linguistic and non-linguistic forms of gestural processing. Sign language bridges the gap between the visuo-manual studies in animal models where mirror neurons were discovered and human language, where there is a tremendous concentration of research on the "mirror system". There is substantial clinical importance as well, as the mirror system has been implicated in a range of acquired and developmental disorders ranging from apraxia and aphasia to autism. If therapies are being developed based on a motor simulation model of understanding, it is critical to have information regarding the validity of these claims. Sign language provides an ideal testing ground. In terms of theory, a dorsal-ventral model of gestural processing guides our investigations. Thus, the proposed project builds on a decades-long program of investigation into the neural basis of sign language and has four specific aims. Aim 1: Map of basic language functions in deaf signers using large-scale lesion-deficit mapping. Aim 2: Map the relation between perception and production of meaningless gestures using lesion and fMRI approaches. Aim 3: Map the relation between recognition and production of meaningful action and object-related gestures using lesion and fMRI approaches. Aim 4: Map the relation between recognition and production of pantomime vs. signed gestures using lesion and fMRI approaches.