Development of functional language brain networks: a multimodal neuroimaging approach

语音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，维持语言功能的大脑通路的发展仍不清楚。由于大多数脑成像技术的方法限制，幼儿语言发展研究面临许多挑战。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。在这个研究项目中，我的第一个目标是开发儿童友好的脑成像方法和数据分析工具，这些工具将用于实现我的第二个目标，即更好地了解与儿童语言功能相关的大脑网络的发展。通过三个具体的研究，我将使用复杂的儿童友好成像技术，即光学成像（NIRS）和电生理学（EEG），克服其他技术在研究婴儿和儿童语言方面的方法局限性。在Study 1中，我将开发一个尖端的NIRS-EEG分析工具，用于后续的研究，以提高数据质量。研究2将是第一个描述0 - 36个月语言脑网络发育轨迹的神经影像学研究，这是语言习得的关键时期。婴儿将分别在出生、4、8、12、18、24和36个月时接受NIRS-EEG记录和交流评估，以跟踪他们的大脑和语言发育。最后，研究3将评估产前语言暴露对语言大脑网络的影响，方法是在怀孕的第三个月，让胎儿使用戴在母亲腹部的耳机接触外语。结果将为胎儿语言环境如何影响后来的语言发展提供重要信息。总的来说，该研究项目将为研究新生儿、婴儿和幼儿的语言和大脑发育提供新的脑成像工具，并将更好地了解语言大脑网络的发育模式，这将极大地影响儿童的社会和认知发展。

Speech processing and language development play a crucial role in the development of social skills and most cognitive functions. However, the development of brain pathways sustaining language functions remains 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, my first objective is to develop child-friendly brain imaging approaches and data analyses tools that will be used to achieve my second objective that is to better understand the development of brain networks associated with language functions in children. Through three specifics studies, I will use sophisticated child-friendly imaging techniques, namely optical imaging, or NIRS, and electrophysiology, or EEG, that overcome the methodological limitations of other techniques for studying language in infants and children. In Study 1, I will develop a cutting-edge NIRS-EEG analysis tool that will be used in the subsequent studies to improve data quality. Study 2 will constitute the first neuroimaging study to characterize the developmental trajectory of language brain networks between 0 and 36 months, which is a crucial period for language acquisition. Infants will undergo NIRS-EEG recordings and communicative assessments at birth, 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months to follow their brain and language development, respectively. Finally, Study 3 will assess the impact of prenatal linguistic exposure on language brain networks, by exposing foetuses to foreign languages during the third trimester of pregnancy using headphones placed on the mothers' abdomen. Results will bring significant information on how the fetal linguistic environment can influence later language development. Overall, the proposed research program will provide new brain imaging tools to study language and brain development in neonates, infants and young children and will give a better understanding of developmental patterns of language cerebral networks, which can greatly influence social and cognitive development in children.