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Design choices in imaging speech comprehension: an Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) meta-analysis
1School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Zochonis Building, Brunswick Street, M13 9PL, Manchester, United Kingdom. patti.adank@manchester.ac.uk
Neuroimage
|July 28, 2012
Summary
Spoken language comprehension involves a widespread neural network, primarily in the temporal lobes. Specific study designs influence activation in areas outside the temporal lobes, like the inferior frontal gyrus.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Psycholinguistics
Background:
- The precise neural basis of spoken language comprehension remains debated, particularly regarding its localization within the temporal lobe and its hemispheric organization (left vs. bilateral).
- Understanding this network is crucial for fields ranging from linguistics to clinical neurology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the neural network engaged in spoken language comprehension using a meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies.
- To investigate how methodological variations in study design impact the observed neural network for comprehension.
Main Methods:
- An Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) meta-analysis was performed on 57 functional MRI and PET studies.
- Studies contrasted conditions of intelligible speech with less intelligible or unintelligible stimuli.
- The influence of scanning paradigm, baseline condition, task presence, and stimulus type was assessed.
Main Results:
- A broad neural network for comprehension was identified, spanning bilateral Superior Temporal Sulcus (STS), Middle Temporal Gyrus (MTG), and Superior Temporal Gyrus (STG).
- Significant activations were also observed in the left Inferior Frontal Gyrus (IFG), left Precentral Gyrus, and Supplementary Motor Area (SMA)/pre-SMA.
- The core network for post-lexical processing was localized to the temporal lobes, anterior to Heschl's Gyrus.
- Activations outside the temporal lobes were associated with specific design choices, including sentence stimuli, particular scanning paradigms, and non-speech baselines.
Conclusions:
- Spoken language comprehension relies on a distributed bilateral network, with a core temporal lobe system for post-lexical processing.
- Methodological factors significantly modulate the extent and localization of brain activation associated with speech comprehension.
