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

言语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，语言脑网络的发展和潜在的发展机制仍不清楚。由于大多数脑成像技术的方法学限制，许多挑战与幼儿语言发展的研究有关。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。在这项研究计划中，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，或NIRS，和电生理学，或EEG，更好地了解与语言发展相关的大脑网络。我们将研究语言的表达（我们说什么）和接受（我们听到和理解什么）发展。在第一项研究中，我们将确认不同年龄段的表达性语言大脑网络，从童年（最早3岁）到成年早期。在随后的研究中，我们的目标是描述婴儿期和幼儿期的语音处理大脑网络，研究年龄从0到36个月的健康儿童。最后，在第三项研究中，我们将调查癫痫儿童语言网络的潜在大脑重组。这项研究将为大脑可塑性和异常的语言功能网络带来新的信息。在三项拟议的研究中，我们将使用休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，而不需要使用刺激或任务。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研究婴儿和儿童语言的方法局限性。总体而言，拟议的研究计划将更好地了解语言大脑网络的发展模式，这可以极大地影响健康和有挑战性的儿童的社会和认知发展，并将提供可靠和客观的工具来调查婴儿和幼儿的语音处理和语言功能，因为它不需要积极的主体参与。

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.