Speech Sensitivity Analysis of Spatially Distributed Brain Areas Using Stereotactic EEG

Electrocorticographic (ECoG) activity recorded from the speech cortex has been extensively characterized and used in the development of speech neuroprosthetics. A recent shift in clinical brain monitoring from ECoG to stereotactic electroencephalography (sEEG) provides the opportunity to examine the role of deeper brain structures in speech processing. This study investigates spectro-temporal brain patterns generated during a speech task using sEEG data from five epilepsy patients. The analysis shows significant correlations in left and right temporal and motor regions, consistent with prior research in ECoG. Furthermore, correlation effects in rostral frontal areas are observed. A time lag analysis demonstrates distinct and functionally plausible activation patterns. The results further support the viability of sEEG for studying speech processes and provide insights into the involvement of spatially distributed, deeper brain areas.