Language Without Speech: Segregating Distinct Circuits in the Human Brain.

Cerebral Cortex
Theresa FinklAlfred Anwander

Abstract

Language is a fundamental part of human cognition. The question of whether language is processed independently of speech, however, is still heavily discussed. The absence of speech in deaf signers offers the opportunity to disentangle language from speech in the human brain. Using probabilistic tractography, we compared brain structural connectivity of adult deaf signers who had learned sign language early in life to that of matched hearing controls. Quantitative comparison of the connectivity profiles revealed that the core language tracts did not differ between signers and controls, confirming that language is independent of speech. In contrast, pathways involved in the production and perception of speech displayed lower connectivity in deaf signers compared to hearing controls. These differences were located in tracts towards the left pre-supplementary motor area and the thalamus when seeding in Broca's area, and in ipsilateral parietal areas and the precuneus with seeds in left posterior temporal regions. Furthermore, the interhemispheric connectivity between the auditory cortices was lower in the deaf than in the hearing group, underlining the importance of the transcallosal connection for early auditory processes. The pre...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1979·Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry·S J Dimond
Sep 11, 2001·Cerebral Cortex·R J Zatorre, P Belin
Nov 13, 2001·Nature Neuroscience·E M FinneyK R Dobkins
Jun 22, 2002·Brain : a Journal of Neurology·Mairéad MacSweeneyMichael J Brammer
Jul 12, 2002·Human Brain Mapping·James R BoothM Marsel Mesulam
Aug 9, 2003·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Karen EmmoreyHanna Damasio
Jan 23, 2004·Nature·Bogdan DraganskiArne May
Dec 8, 2004·Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education·M Harris, J Beech
Dec 15, 2004·Annals of Neurology·Marco CataniDominic H ffytche
Apr 23, 2005·Human Brain Mapping·Augusto PetacchiJames M Bower
Dec 13, 2005·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Efrat A SchorrEric I Knudsen
Feb 8, 2006·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Angela D FriedericiAlfred Anwander
Apr 21, 2006·NeuroImage·Stephen M SmithTimothy E J Behrens
May 19, 2006·Cerebral Cortex·A AnwanderT R Knösche
Apr 14, 2007·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Gregory Hickok, David Poeppel
Oct 12, 2007·NeuroImage·Jaymin UpadhyayItamar Ronen
Nov 21, 2007·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Karalyn PattersonTimothy T Rogers
Nov 14, 2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Dorothee SaurCornelius Weiller
Sep 29, 2009·Brain and Language·Anthony Steven DickSteven L Small
Jun 23, 2010·Cerebral Cortex·Jens BrauerAngela D Friederici
Sep 3, 2010·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Marco TaubertPatrick Ragert
Sep 1, 2011·Nature Neuroscience·Sander NieuwenhuisEric-Jan Wagenmakers
Sep 8, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Daniela PeraniAngela D Friederici
May 11, 2012·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·Alexander A SchlegelPeter U Tse
Jul 13, 2012·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Matthew K LeonardEric Halgren
Jan 15, 2013·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Robert C BerwickJohan J Bolhuis
Mar 30, 2013·Language and Linguistics Compass·Wendy Sandler
Jul 4, 2013·Brain : a Journal of Neurology·Marco CataniEmily Rogalski
Jul 26, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Diana López-BarrosoRuth de Diego-Balaguer
Dec 18, 2013·The Neuroscientist : a Review Journal Bringing Neurobiology, Neurology and Psychiatry·Anthony Steven DickPascale Tremblay
Jun 7, 2014·Annual Review of Neuroscience·Peter Hagoort, Peter Indefrey
Jul 12, 2014·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science·Diane C Lillo-Martin, Jon Gajewski
Mar 3, 2015·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Adeen FlinkerNathan E Crone
Mar 15, 2015·Cerebral Cortex·Michael A SkeideAngela D Friederici

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.