Functional Architecture of Speech Motor Cortex

项目总结 说话是我们做的最复杂的动作之一，但我们几乎所有人都能毫不费力地学会说话。这个 通过言语进行交流的能力通常被描述为人类行为的独特和决定性特征。 尽管它很重要，但支配我们流利说话能力的基本神经机制仍然存在 悬而未决。这一建议解决了语言学、系统和系统之间的两个基本问题 神经科学和生物医学工程：1)关节的运动学和声学目标是什么？ 在人类语言运动皮质中的代表？2)皮质的协调模式是什么？ 能够产生流畅、连续的语言的激活？以及3)前额叶皮质是如何管理 对言语的认知抑制控制(如停顿)？我们的学习应该大大促进我们的理解 关于语音运动皮质如何编码语音产生过程中发音的精确控制，以及 确定这种控制系统是否可以用于新的康复策略。三大潜力 影响的领域是：语言的神经生物学，结果将揭示神经生理学 言语运动控制的机制；人类神经生理学，所获得的洞察力可能表明 基于机器学习的分布式群体神经活动分析方法和翻译 神经工程学，在无与伦比的时空中利用新的皮质记录技术 分辨率和持续时间。我们建议研究言语运动皮质的功能组织。 在控制元音和音节产生的过程中，也可以从自然、连续的语音中获得。我们的方法 在人类中使用安全、高密度、大规模的颅内电极记录具有重要的意义 当前非侵入性神经成像方法的进展。要做到这一点，我们必须创新， 语音运动控制研究的综合方法。我们已经组建了一个团队，拥有多个重要的 神经外科、神经学、伦理学、计算建模、机器学习、 神经科学、工程学和语言学。创伤导致的深度瘫痪最让人虚弱的方面是， 中风或疾病是指丧失说话能力，这会导致严重的社会孤立。我们的研究 利用在NIH新创新者(DP2)奖下试行的研究中获得的基础知识。 我们希望扩大我们对言语运动控制的神经生物学研究的影响。

PROJECT SUMMARY Speaking is one of the most complex actions that we perform, yet nearly all of us learn do it effortlessly. The ability to communicate through speech is often described as the unique and defining trait of human behavior. Despite its importance, the basic neural mechanisms that govern our ability to speak fluently remain unresolved. This proposal addresses two fundamental questions at the crossroads of linguistics, systems neuroscience, and biomedical engineering: 1) How are the kinematic and acoustic targets of articulation represented in human speech motor cortex?, 2) What are the coordinated patterns of cortical activation that gives rise to fluent, continuous speech?, and 3) How does prefrontal cortex govern the cognitive inhibitory control of speech (e.g. stopping)? Our studies should greatly advance understanding of how the speech motor cortex encodes the precise control of articulation during speech production as well as determine whether this control system can be harnessed for novel rehabilitative strategies. Three potential areas of impact are: Neurobiology of Language, where results will shed light on neurophysiologic mechanisms of speech motor control; Human Neurophysiology, where insight gained may suggest novel methods for machine learning-based analyses of distributed population neural activity; and Translational NeuroEngineering, where utilization of novel cortical recording technologies at unparalleled spatiotemporal resolution and duration. We propose to investigate the functional organization of the speech motor cortex during controlled vowel and syllable productions, but also from natural, continuous speech. Our methods utilizing safe, high-density, large-scale intracranial electrode recordings in humans represent a significant advancement over current noninvasive neuroimaging approaches. To accomplish this, we must innovate new, integrative approaches to speech motor control research. We have assembled a team with significant multi- disciplinary strengths in neurosurgery, neurology, ethics, computational modeling, machine learning, neuroscience, engineering, and linguistics. The most debilitating aspect of profound paralysis due to trauma, stroke, or disease is loss of the ability to speak, which leads to profound social isolation. Our research leverages foundational knowledge gained during research piloted under a NIH New Innovator (DP2) award. We wish to broaden the impact of our research in the neurobiology of speech motor control.