Spatial language: Developmental and Neural Studies

描述(由申请人提供)：这项提议的中心目标是描述人类如何概念化和标记空间事件。人类识别世界上发生的事件，并使用语言来交流有关这些事件的信息。这个世界到单词的映射是如何发生的？知觉、知觉范畴和语言空间表征之间有什么联系？在探讨这些问题时，我们将检验一组嵌套的假设，即空间事件(例如)被分解为静态和动态以及内在和外在的空间信息。这些类型的空间信息沿着一个梯度表示，从具体的和感性的到抽象的和概念性的。该系统还被设计成既能识别特定的空间事件，又能从特定的实例概括到一般的类别。我们将使用三管齐下的策略在我们的三个具体目标中测试这些假设。首先，我们将检验这一假设，即在发育过程中，空间事件被分解为运动的方式(内在)和路径(外在)。这种分解既发生在语言前范畴，也发生在语言范畴，并沿着具体/感知到抽象/概念的梯度进行。其次，我们将检验空间事件的神经中介被分解为运动(内在)、路径和位置(外在)信息的假设。在知觉上，这两种信息分别与人的MT/MST和额顶网络相连。此外，每个领域都有一个功能解剖组织，其梯度范围从感知到概念到语言表达。最后，将检验这一假设，即内在和外在的空间信息可以被大脑损伤选择性地破坏。这些知觉和认知系统将选择性地容易受到干扰，这取决于损伤是发生在后外侧的颞叶网络还是额顶网络。通过发展、成像和神经语言学的研究，我们希望促进我们对语言空间概念的理解。我们的目标是在空间认知的这一方面建立跨认知语言学、发展心理学、功能神经成像和神经心理学的汇合点。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The central aim of this proposal is to characterize how humans conceptualize and label spatial events. Humans recognize events that occur in the world and use language to communicate information about these events. How does this world to word mapping occur? What are the links between perception, perceptual categories and linguistic spatial representations? In approaching these questions, we will test a set of nested hypotheses postulating that spatial events (for speaking) are decomposed into static and dynaimc as well as intrinsic and extrinsic spatial information. These kinds of spatial information are represented along a gradient, ranging from the concrete and perceptual to the abstract and conceptual. The system is also designed to both recognize specific spatial events and be able to generalize from specific instances to general categories. We will use a three-pronged strategy to test these hypotheses in our 3 specific aims. First, we will test the hypothesis that during development spatial events become decomposed into manner (intrinsic) and path (extrinsic) of motion. This decomposition occurs for both prelinguistic and linguistic categories and proceeds along a concrete/perceptual to an abstract/conceptual gradient. Second, we will test the hypothesis that the neural mediation of spatial events is decomposed into manner of motion (intrinsic) and path and locative (extrinsic) information. Perceptually, these two kinds of information are linked to human MT/MST and fronto- parietal networks respectively. Furthermore, each domain has a functional anatomic organization with a gradient ranging from perception to conception to linguistic expression. Finally, will test the hypothesis that intrinsic and extrinsic spatial information can be selectively disrupted by brain damage. These perceptual and cognitive systems will be selectively vulnerable to disruption depending on whether damage occurs within postero-lateral temporal or fronto-parietal networks. By using developmental, imaging and neurolinguistic studies, we hope to advance our understanding of spatial concepts for language. Our goal is to establish points of convergence in this aspect of spatial cognition across cognitive linguistics, developmental psychology, functional neuroimaging and neuropsychology.