PHONOLOGICAL AND VISUAL PROCESSING IN DEAF SIGNERS

理解和产生语言的能力是一种 人类认知的特征。正是这种能力， 使知识和文化在人类社会中得以传播。 对人类语言能力的一个恰当描述是 制定干预措施所需的资源， 补救那些未能实现的人，或者 已经失去了能力，在一个全面的语言行为（例如， 有效的人际沟通、阅读、写作等）。 认知心理学家在理解 使用口语的功能和神经机制 语言这些研究导致了广泛的有效的 提高语言行为的教育和临床计划。 然而，在符号语言领域的等价知识 缺乏。这项研究的长期目标是开发一种 手语加工的综合神经认知模型 从行为和功能性脑成像研究中得出。等 一个模型将具有实际的教育价值;它将指导 制定有效的战略和方案， 改善聋哑人的特定语言行为， 来自不同的语言背景。这也有利于基本 科学，提供洞察如何感觉剥夺和早期 语言经验影响神经系统的发育。 最后，这一模型将有利于认知科学家感兴趣的， 功能性神经特化模型 语言符号的神经认知模型的发展- 语言处理需要多方面的知识， 手语处理位于视觉，语言， 和运动处理域。该模型的构建将 不仅需要了解非常一般的功能， 神经变化，可能共同发生在响应早期听觉 剥夺，但也有修改和专业化， 专门处理视觉-手动语言。当前 应用程序提出了一个层次的研究，从视觉- 感官领域到语言认知领域， 手语处理这些处理水平已经被 认知神经科学的最新发现表明， 在处理视觉信息的过程中， 运动和形式。

The ability to comprehend and produce language stands as a defining characteristic of human cognition. It is this ability which enables the transfer of knowledge and culture within human society. A proper characterization of the human capacity for language is required for the development of interventions which may be used to remediate those individuals who have failed to achieve, or who have lost competence in, a full range of language behaviors (e.g. effective interpersonal communication, reading, writing, etc.). Cognitive psychologists have made great strides in understanding the functional and neural mechanisms underlying the use of spoken language. These studies have led to a wide range of effective educational and clinical programs for enhancing language behaviors. However, equivalent knowledge in the domain of signed languages is lacking. The long-term objective of this research is to develop a comprehensive neurocognitive model of sign language processing derived from behavioral and functional brain-imaging studies. Such a model would have practical educational value; it would guide the development of effective strategies and programs targeted toward improving specific language behaviors in deaf individuals who come from a variety of language backgrounds. It would also benefit basic science, providing insight into how sensory deprivation and early language experience impacts the development of neural systems. Finally, this model would benefit cognitive scientists interested in models of the functional neural specialization underlying human language. The development of a neurocognitive model of sign- language processing will require knowledge from several fronts, as sign language processing lies at the intersection of visual, linguistic, and motor processing domains. Construction of this model will require an understanding of not only the very general functional neural changes that may co-occur in response to early auditory deprivation, but also the modifications and specialization which may be specific to processing a visual-manual language. The current application proposes a hierarchy of studies ranging from the visual- sensory domain to the linguistic.cognitive domain likely to underlie sign language processing. These processing levels have been motivated by recent findings in cognitive neurosciences which argue for neuro-functional differences in the processing of visual movement and form.