Motor cortex and speech perception
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In everyday communication we encounter speech in situations that are less than ideal resulting in an input that in one form or another is degraded, due to background noise, unfamiliar accent, effected production. Classic theorists such as Wernicke (1874), argue in favor of a strict functional-anatomical segregation where speech comprehension occurs entirely in the auditory cortex and speech production in frontal regions. Contrary to this, recent work appears to suggest that this distinction is not so clear-cut. This research suggests that as the speech signal becomes harder to understand, the brain draws on additional resources, mainly from the motor cortex, to help with comprehension. Through the use of Electromyography (EMG) and Trancranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) our research aims to investigate the role of motor cortex in the differing conditions mentioned above.
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Speech Adaptation
Beyond the motor cortex, we as a lab are also interested in the general mechanisms that support the extraordinary ability of humans to adapt to different types of speech as encountered in everyday communication e.g. due to accent, background noise, affected production and so on. We are interested in understanding the rate and extent to which humans can adapt to different types of speech, the cognitive mechanisms behind the different forms of adaptation and if/how the rate and degree of adaptation changes with age.
Initially this research is being conducted using traditional behavioural paradigms, however work is also being conducted in the lab using TMS in young, healthy populations as well as Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging in both younger and older healthy populations to try and uncover the key neural networks that support this task and the potential neural changes that occur with age.
Collaborators:
Initially this research is being conducted using traditional behavioural paradigms, however work is also being conducted in the lab using TMS in young, healthy populations as well as Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging in both younger and older healthy populations to try and uncover the key neural networks that support this task and the potential neural changes that occur with age.
Collaborators: