Subcortical roles in lexical task processing: Inferences from thalamic and subthalamic event-related potentials.
Hannes O Tiedt1, Felicitas Ehlen1, Lea K Krugel1
1Department of Neurology, Motor and Cognition Group, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin (CBF), Hindenburgdamm 30, Berlin, 12003, Germany.
Human Brain Mapping
|September 21, 2016
Summary
Subcortical brain regions like the thalamus and subthalamic nucleus show distinct electrical activity during language tasks. Thalamic activity supports focus, while subthalamic nucleus activity may aid in task sequencing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Subcortical contributions to language processing remain unclear.
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS) offers a unique window into subcortical function.
- Investigating neural activity in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and thalamus (VIM) can elucidate language mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the roles of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and thalamic ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) in language processing.
- To differentiate subcortical electrical activity during a lexical decision task (LDT).
- To correlate subcortical event-related potentials with scalp EEG findings.
Main Methods:
- Recorded event-related potentials from STN and VIM electrodes during a lexical decision task (LDT).
- Simultaneously recorded surface electroencephalography (EEG).
- Participants differentiated words from pseudo-words, preceded by prime words.
Main Results:
- VIM recordings showed prolonged activity during the LDT, suggesting thalamic engagement for task focus.
- STN recordings revealed phasic activation related to prime words, indicating procedural functions like sequencing.
- Both regions exhibited activity related to motor responses, and scalp EEG showed N400 potentials.
Conclusions:
- Thalamic VIM activity supports sustained attentional engagement required for language tasks.
- Subthalamic nucleus (STN) activity appears involved in procedural aspects of task execution, such as response inhibition or sequencing.
- These findings highlight distinct subcortical contributions to language and cognitive control.
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