Functional organization of the superior temporal gyrus for speech perception

项目总结 理解口语的基本机制在很大程度上仍然是未知的。在过去的时间里 十年来，我们对人脑如何提取最基本的语言有了新的见解 从复杂和高度可变的声学信号中提取元素(辅音和元音)。然而，下一盘 关于这些听觉元素的排序以及它们如何与 其他特征，如语音的幅度包络。大脑皮层表现的进一步研究 对语音的研究很可能有助于阐明这些基本问题。之前的研究已经表明， 高级颞叶皮质在语音处理中的作用，但人们对这些声音是如何处理的知之甚少 联结成文字的感性体验和连续不断的言语。神经活动的记录 直接从皮质表面观察是一种很有前途的研究方法，因为它可以提供高度的空间和 时间分辨率。本研究试图通过对语音编码机制的研究来探讨语音编码的机制 在神经外科手术过程中获得的神经生理记录。高密度电极阵列和 将利用高级信号处理来解开语音的本地和群体编码 外侧的颞叶皮质。总体目标是确定大脑如何从一个 复杂的声学语音信号有助于更好地理解和补救人类语言障碍。

PROJECT SUMMARY The basic mechanisms underlying comprehension of spoken language are still largely unknown. Over the past decade, we have gained new insights to how the human brain extracts the most fundamental linguistic elements (consonants and vowels) from a complex and highly variable acoustic signal. However, the next set of questions await pertaining to the sequencing of those auditory elements and how they are integrated with other features, such as, the amplitude envelope of speech. Further investigation of the cortical representation of speech sounds can likely shed light on these fundamental questions. Previous research has implicated the superior temporal cortex in the processing of speech sounds, but little is known about how these sounds are linked together into the perceptual experience of words and continuous speech. The recording of neural activity directly from the cortical surface is a promising approach to study this since it can provide both high spatial and temporal resolution. This proposal seeks to examine the mechanisms of phonetic encoding by utilizing neurophysiological recordings obtained during neurosurgical procedures. High-density electrode arrays and advanced signal processing will be utilized to unravel both local and population encoding of speech sounds in the lateral temporal cortex. The overall goal is to determine how the brain extracts linguistic elements from a complex acoustic speech signal towards better understanding and remediating human language disorders.