Development of language functional networks: a resting-state neuroimaging approach

语音处理和语言发展在社会技能和大多数认知功能的发展中起着至关重要的作用。然而，语言脑网络的发展及其潜在的发展机制尚不清楚。由于大多数脑成像技术的方法限制，幼儿语言发展研究面临许多挑战。例如，大多数技术要求参与者在记录大脑活动期间保持不动并执行语言任务，这在幼儿中是不可能的。在这个研究项目中，我们的目标是通过使用复杂的儿童友好成像技术，即光学成像（NIRS）和电生理学（EEG），更好地了解与语言发展相关的大脑网络。表达性（我们所说的）和接受性（我们听到和理解的）语言发展将被调查。在第一项研究中，我们将确认从童年（早至3岁）到成年早期的不同年龄阶段的表达性语言大脑网络。在随后的研究中，我们的目标是表征婴儿期和幼儿期的语音处理大脑网络，研究年龄为0至36个月的健康儿童。最后，在第三项研究中，我们将研究癫痫儿童大脑语言网络的潜在重组。这项研究将为大脑可塑性和语言功能异常网络的研究提供新的信息。在这三个拟议的研究中，我们将使用静息状态功能连接方法，该方法允许在参与者休息时测量大脑活动，而无需使用刺激或任务。通过使用这种创新的方法和NIRS-EEG技术，我们将克服其他技术在婴儿和儿童语言研究中的方法局限性。总的来说，该研究计划将更好地理解语言大脑网络的发展模式，这将极大地影响健康和挑战儿童的社会和认知发展，并将为研究婴幼儿的语音处理和语言功能提供可靠和客观的工具，因为它不需要受试者的积极参与。

Speech processing and language development play a crucial role in the development of social skills and most cognitive functions. However, development of language brain networks and the underlying developmental mechanisms remain unclear. Many challenges are associated with the study of language development in young children due to methodological limitations of most brain imaging techniques. For instance, most techniques require the participant to stay motionless and to perform a language task during recording the brain activity, which is not possible in young children. In this research program, our objective is to better understand brain networks associated with language development by using sophisticated child-friendly imaging techniques, namely optical imaging, or NIRS, and electrophysiology, or EEG. Expressive (what we say) and receptive (what we hear and understand) language development will be investigated. In a first study, we will confirm expressive language brain networks across ages, from childhood (as early as 3 years of age) through early adulthood. In a subsequent study, we aim to characterize speech processing cerebral networks in infancy and early childhood, studying healthy children aged from 0 to 36 months. Finally, in a third study, we will investigate potential brain reorganization of language networks in children with epilepsy. This study will bring new information on brain plasticity and aberrant network of language functions. In the three proposed studies, we will use a resting-state functional connectivity approach that allows to measure cerebral activity while the participant is resting, without the need of using a stimulation or a task. By using this innovative approach and the NIRS-EEG techniques, we will overcome the methodological limitations of other techniques for studying language in infants and children. Overall, the proposed research program will give a better understanding of developmental patterns of language cerebral networks, which can greatly influence social and cognitive development of healthy and challenged children, and will provide reliable and objective tools to investigate speech processing and language functioning in infants and young children since it does not require an active subject participation.