Neural mechanisms for stopping ongoing speech production

项目摘要 在谈话过程中，言语产生的时间是精确的。人们表现出非凡的适应能力 他们讲话的开始和结束时间取决于别人说什么。拟议工作的长期目标 是为了了解在说话时精确控制说话时间的神经机制， 对话。具体而言，该建议侧重于快速停止正在进行的生产的控制 在话语结束之前。在大脑皮层的许多区域都发现了与语言产生有关的神经回路 区域，如感觉运动皮层、前运动皮层和前额叶皮层。现有证据表明， 这些电路支持语音的产生。例如，感觉运动皮层的腹侧部分 （vSMC）包含关节的表示（例如，唇、颌、舌）。vSMC中的神经活动编码了 发音运动轨迹。然而，人们对控制大脑的神经回路知之甚少。 突然停止讲话。这种知识鸿沟限制了我们对正常言语的基本原理的理解 生产，以及语言和沟通障碍的原因，如口吃和失语症。 该提案将测试一个总体假设，即运动前区包含一个神经网络， 区分指示停止的感觉输入并产生信号以调节vSMC用于停止。的 运动前区为vSMC提供输入，并在言语准备和感觉运动中发挥重要作用 转型赵博士将结合高密度皮层电图（ECoG）来记录神经活动 当参与者执行语音产生任务时，直接从人类皮层发出。高密度脑皮层电是一种状态- 最先进的技术，具有良好的空间和时间分辨率，非常适合研究神经 演讲的动力。目标1将定义用于控制言语停止的前运动信号。参与者 在视觉提示下，在言语产生过程中被指示间歇性停顿。目标2将决定 停止活动对停止期间发音控制影响。赵博士将获得发音知识 语音学和心理语言学，以及测量发音运动学特征的实验技术 在演讲停止时。目标3将确定前运动网络在谈话中停止的作用 contexts.该项目的成果预计将提供基本知识，了解正常的 言语产生功能，这是改善言语和交流治疗所必需的 未来的混乱。赵博士将得到顶级学术环境和世界级专家的支持 在弗朗西斯科的加州大学和伯克利的加州大学。这笔赠款将提供培训 人类皮层神经生理学和语言学技能的机会，这将有助于他顺利过渡 交给独立调查员

Project Summary Speech production is timed precisely during conversations. People demonstrate a remarkable ability to adjust the start and stop time of their speech depending on what others say. The long-term goal of the proposed work is to understand the neural mechanism that gives rise to the precise control of speech timing during conversations. Specifically, this proposal focuses on the control for quickly stopping an ongoing production before an utterance is finished. Neural circuits involved in speech production are found across many cortical areas, such as the sensorimotor cortex, the premotor and prefrontal cortices. Existing evidence has shown how these circuits support the generation of speech sound. For example, the ventral part of the sensorimotor cortex (vSMC) contains a representation of articulators (e.g., lip, jaw, tongue). Neural activity in vSMC encodes the articulatory kinematic trajectories during speaking. However, little is known about the neural circuit controlling a sudden stop of speech. This knowledge gap limits our understanding of the principles underlying normal speech production, as well as the causes of speech and communication disorders like stuttering and aphasia. The proposal will test the overarching hypothesis that the premotor areas contain a neural network that distinguishes sensory inputs indicating a stop and generates signals to modulate vSMC for stopping. The premotor areas provide input to the vSMC and serve important functions in speech preparation and sensorimotor transformation. Dr. Zhao will incorporate high-density electrocorticography (ECoG) to record neural activities directly from the human cortex while participants perform speech production tasks. High-density ECoG is a state- of-the-art technique with fine spatial and temporal resolutions that are well suited for studying the neural dynamics of speech. Aim 1 will define the premotor signal for the control of speech stopping. Participants are instructed to make intermittent stops during speech production following visual cues. Aim 2 will determine the effect of stop activity on articulatory control during stopping. Dr. Zhao will obtain knowledge of articulatory phonetics and psycholinguistics, and the experimental techniques to measure articulatory kinematic features during speech stopping. Aim 3 will determine the role of the premotor network for stopping in conversation contexts. The outcome of this project is expected to provide basic knowledge for understanding the normal function of speech production, which is necessary for improving treatments for speech and communication disorders in the future. Dr. Zhao will be supported by a top-tier academic environment and world-class experts at University of California, San Francisco, and University of California, Berkeley. This grant will provide training opportunities of human cortical neurophysiology and skills in linguistics, which will facilitate his smooth transition to an independent investigator.