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Measuring and Manipulating Functionally Specific Neural Pathways in the Human Motor System with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published on: February 23, 2020
The Left Ventral Premotor Cortex: Powerful Roles in Reading.
1Section of Systems Neuroscience, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa, Japan.
Summary
The left ventral premotor cortex (PMv) is a key brain region for reading, especially when visual word processing is impaired. It rapidly generates speech motor codes during reading, offering a new target for neuromodulation research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
Background:
- The left ventral premotor cortex (PMv), Brodmann area 6, is cytoarchitecturally distinct from adjacent motor and language areas.
- PMv is involved in speech production and receives input from visual and phonological processing regions.
- Its role in reading, particularly in cases of compromised visual word-form systems, is increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the underappreciated role of the left PMv in the reading network.
- To investigate the functional connectivity between the left PMv and posterior reading regions.
- To explore the potential of the left PMv as a target for neuromodulation to enhance reading abilities.
Main Methods:
- Review of functional neuroimaging studies.
- Analysis of brain stimulation research.
- Examination of white matter connectivity patterns.
Main Results:
- The left PMv is directly connected to posterior visual and phonological processing areas.
- These connections facilitate rapid generation of speech motor codes during reading, even in early stages.
- The left PMv plays a critical role when the occipitotemporal visual word-form system is underdeveloped or compromised.
Conclusions:
- The left PMv is a crucial component of the reading network, acting as an alternative pathway.
- Its rapid processing of speech motor codes suggests a significant role in reading fluency.
- The left PMv presents a promising target for neuromodulation interventions aimed at improving reading.
Keywords:
left ventral premotor cortex: articulatory codesneuromodulationreadingreading development and remediationMore Related Videos
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