The impact of domain-general networks on natural language processing

语言理解是成功和有效的人类交际的基础。以往的研究表明，在具有挑战性的听力条件下的言语理解过程中，语义网络和一般域扣带-盖网络之间的功能相互作用。基于这些DFG资助的结果，本项目询问了在任务需求增加的情况下，域通用网络在自然语言理解中的作用。在一个互补的多方法的方法，双任务设计结合了自定进度的阅读与n-back任务，以提供洞察行为，电生理和神经相关的自然语言理解在不同的子项目。虽然增加任务需求会增加阅读时间，但这里的关键兴趣在于这种需求在行为水平和神经生物学水平上所带来的功能动力学。由神经刺激引起的焦点扰动将探测不同任务需求下行为表现的关键功能网络节点的功能相关性。在语言理解过程中，非特异性努力与语言特异性预测的时间动态将用脑电图来表征。最后，将结合神经刺激和神经影像学研究语言和一般领域网络之间的适应性短期可塑性。这种设计提供了匹配现实生活中的语言处理到最好的可能程度的优势，并将允许语言特定的和域一般的过程之间的功能相互作用的全面表征。

Language comprehension is fundamental to successful and efficient human communication. Previous studies have characterized the functional interplay between the semantic network and the domain-general cingulo-opercular network during speech comprehension under challenging listening conditions. Building upon these DFG-funded results, the present project asks what the role of domain-general networks is in natural language comprehension under increased task demands. In a complementary multi-method approach, a dual-task design combines self-paced reading with an n-back task to provide insight into the behavioral, electrophysiological and neural correlates of natural language comprehension in different subprojects. While increasing task demands will increase reading times, the key interest here lies in the functional dynamics this demand entails at the behavioral level and the neurobiological level. Focal perturbations induced by neurostimulation will probe the functional relevance of key functional-network nodes for behavioral performance under varying task demands. The temporal dynamics of unspecific effort vs. language-specific predictions during language comprehension will be characterized with electroencephalography. Finally, adaptive short-term plasticity between language and domain-general networks will be studied by combining neurostimulation and neuroimaging. This design provides the advantage of matching real-life language processing to the best possible degree and will allow for a comprehensive characterization of the functional interplay between language-specific and domain-general processes.