Cited by 59Tactile and Sensory InteractionsNeurobiology of Language and BilingualismPhonetics and Phonology Research

Ultra-fast speech comprehension in blind subjects engages primary visual cortex, fusiform gyrus, and pulvinar – a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study

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Dietrich, Susanne, Hertrich, Ingo, Ackermann, Hermann·2013·BMC Neuroscience

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Individuals suffering from vision loss of a peripheral origin may learn to understand spoken language at a rate of up to about 22 syllables (syl) per second - exceeding by far the maximum performance level of normal-sighted listeners (ca. 8 syl/s). To further elucidate the brain mechanisms underlying this extraordinary skill, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed in blind subjects of varying ultra-fast speech comprehension capabilities and sighted individuals while listening to sentence utterances of a moderately fast (8 syl/s) or ultra-fast (16 syl/s) syllabic rate. RESULTS: Besides left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), bilateral posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) and left supplementary motor area (SMA), blind people highly proficient in ultra-fast speech perception showed significant hemodynamic activation of right-hemispheric primary visual cortex (V1), contralateral fusiform gyrus (FG), and bilateral pulvinar (Pv). CONCLUSIONS: Presumably, FG supports the left-hemispheric perisylvian "language network", i.e., IFG and superior temporal lobe, during the (segmental) sequencing of verbal utterances whereas the collaboration of bilateral pulvinar, right auditory cortex, and ipsilateral V1 implements a signal-driven timing mechanism related to syllabic (suprasegmental) modulation of the speech signal. These data structures, conveyed via left SMA to the perisylvian "language zones", might facilitate - under time-critical conditions - the consolidation of linguistic information at the level of verbal working memory.

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  1. Liberman AM Special Code 1996 Cambridge, MA: MIT Press
  2. Burr D Alais D Combining visual and auditory information Prog Brain Res 2006 155 243 258 17027392

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Authors
Dietrich, S., Hertrich, I., & Ackermann, H.
Affiliations
Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (DE)
Corresponding author
Dietrich, Susanne
Venue
BMC Neuroscience
Published
2013-07-23
Volume
14
Issue
1
Pages
74-74
ISSN
1471-2202 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2030873939
Cited by
59
References
82
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2
FWCI
2.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • BMC Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 550)
  • Universität des Saarlandes
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Phonetics and Phonology Research
Keywords
visual impairment, blind people, primary visual cortex, fusiform gyrus, pulvinar, supplementary motor area, inferior frontal gyrus, posterior superior temporal sulcus, speech rate, verbal working memory, auditory cortex, language network
MeSH terms
Adult, Blindness, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Cortex, Female, Humans, Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Speech Perception, Time Factors, Visual Cortex, Persons with Visual Disabilities, Visually Impaired Persons, Pulvinar, Comprehension

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