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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
12:09
Stimulating the Lip Motor Cortex with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published on: June 14, 2014
Speech perception: motoric contributions versus the motor theory
Joseph T Devlin1, Jennifer Aydelott
1Cognitive, Perceptual and Brain Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. joe.t.devlin@googlemail.com
Current Biology : CB
|March 13, 2009
Summary
The motor cortex plays a role in both producing and understanding speech. This finding revives interest in how gestures influence speech perception.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
Background:
- Emerging research suggests the motor cortex is implicated in speech perception, not solely speech production.
- This challenges traditional models of auditory-based speech processing.
Discussion:
- The motor cortex's role in perception supports embodied cognition theories.
- This suggests that understanding speech may involve simulating the motor actions of articulation.
Key Insights:
- Motor cortex involvement in speech perception is a significant finding.
- This highlights the interconnectedness of motor and sensory systems in language processing.
Outlook:
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise neural mechanisms.
- Investigating the link between motor cortex activity and gesture-based speech perception theories is warranted.
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