The Role of Frontal and Temporal Brain Areas in the Perception of Phonetic Category Structure

描述（由申请人提供）：虽然近年来在描述负责将语音信号映射到意义的神经系统方面取得了重大进展，但对下额叶脑结构在该过程中的作用仍然知之甚少。目前的项目旨在调查的假设，左额下回起着积极的作用，处理语音，以映射他们的意义。首先，我们认为左额下回在语音竞争条件下受到牵连 因为语音映射到意义。其次，我们研究了内隐和外显训练模式下额叶下区在新言语类别习得中的作用。这些问题将通过功能性神经影像学（fMRI）的研究未受损的个人与失语症患者的额叶或颞叶脑结构损伤的轭行为研究一起解决。行为措施包括使用眼动跟踪措施，允许收集在线，隐式措施的敏感性语音类别的变化。这些研究的结果将完善现有的模型的神经基础的言语知觉。作为该项目的结果获得的知识将更好地表征在额叶和颞叶损伤的失语症患者的语音处理水平的损伤。这些知识，再加上对失语症患者学习新的语音声音敏感性的能力的进一步了解，可以用来为额叶和颞叶损伤的失语症患者提供康复策略。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): While significant progress has been made in recent years in describing the neural systems that are responsible for mapping the speech signal to meaning, the role of inferior frontal brain structures in this process remains poorly understood. The current project is designed to investigate the hypothesis that the left inferior frontal gyrus plays an active role processing the sounds of speech in order to map them to meaning. First, we suggest that the left inferior frontal gyrus is implicated under conditions of phonetic competition as speech sounds are mapped to meaning. Second, we investigate the role of inferior frontal regions in the acquisition of new speech categories in both implicit and explicit training paradigms. These questions will be addressed via functional neuroimaging (fMRI) studies of unimpaired individuals together with yoked behavioral studies of aphasic individuals with lesions in either frontal or temporal brain structures. Behavioral measures include the use of eye-tracking measures which allow for the collection of online, implicit measures of sensitivity to phonetic category variability. Results of these studies will refine existing models of the neural underpinnings of speech perception. The knowledge gained as a result of this project will better characterize impairments at the level of speech processing in aphasic individuals with frontal and temporal damage. This knowledge, together, with an enhanced understanding of the capacity of aphasics to learn new speech sound sensitivities, may be used to inform rehabilitative strategies for aphasics with frontal and temporal damage.