scholarly journals Language-Specific Synchronization of Neural Networks in the Human Brain

Author(s):  
Sergii Tukaiev ◽  
Annemieke van den Tol ◽  
Volodymyr Rizun ◽  
Yurii Havrylets ◽  
Mykola Makarchuk ◽  
...  

This study examines language-specific characteristics of the electric activity in bilinguals’ brains. The aim of this study was to evaluate language-specific characteristics of functional connectivity related to the perception of verbal information in different languages. Increasing synchronization of gamma band was detected in the association regions of left hemisphere during the Russian sonnets, alongside with interhemispheric coherence. The increase in synchronization exclusively in the left hemisphere was observed as in the case of English and Ukrainian sonnets. Increase of the coherence was shown in the left lateral and medial supplementary motor area when listening to Russian sonnets in comparison with Ukrainian. Decrease of coherence while listening to the Russian sonnets in comparison with Ukrainian was present in angular gyrus and superior parietal lobule. This evidence could indicate relatively lesser involvement of memory and attention when listening to Russian in comparison with the Ukrainian. Despite high proficiency of the participants, the mechanism of language perception could be different. Perhaps, an emotional response does not depend on the level of knowledge of the language but rather on its phonetic structure and prosody.

2022 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dazhi Cheng ◽  
Mengyi Li ◽  
Jiaxin Cui ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Naiyi Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Mathematical expressions mainly include arithmetic (such as 8 − (1 + 3)) and algebra (such as a − (b + c)). Previous studies have shown that both algebraic processing and arithmetic involved the bilateral parietal brain regions. Although previous studies have revealed that algebra was dissociated from arithmetic, the neural bases of the dissociation between algebraic processing and arithmetic is still unclear. The present study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify the specific brain networks for algebraic and arithmetic processing. Methods Using fMRI, this study scanned 30 undergraduates and directly compared the brain activation during algebra and arithmetic. Brain activations, single-trial (item-wise) interindividual correlation and mean-trial interindividual correlation related to algebra processing were compared with those related to arithmetic. The functional connectivity was analyzed by a seed-based region of interest (ROI)-to-ROI analysis. Results Brain activation analyses showed that algebra elicited greater activation in the angular gyrus and arithmetic elicited greater activation in the bilateral supplementary motor area, left insula, and left inferior parietal lobule. Interindividual single-trial brain-behavior correlation revealed significant brain-behavior correlations in the semantic network, including the middle temporal gyri, inferior frontal gyri, dorsomedial prefrontal cortices, and left angular gyrus, for algebra. For arithmetic, the significant brain-behavior correlations were located in the phonological network, including the precentral gyrus and supplementary motor area, and in the visuospatial network, including the bilateral superior parietal lobules. For algebra, significant positive functional connectivity was observed between the visuospatial network and semantic network, whereas for arithmetic, significant positive functional connectivity was observed only between the visuospatial network and phonological network. Conclusion These findings suggest that algebra relies on the semantic network and conversely, arithmetic relies on the phonological and visuospatial networks.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dazhi Cheng ◽  
Mengyi Li ◽  
Naiyi Wang ◽  
Liangyuan Ouyang ◽  
Xinlin Zhou

Abstract Background Mathematical expressions mainly include arithmetic (such as 8 − (1 + 3)) and algebraic expressions (such as a − (b + c)). Previous studies shown that both algebraic processing and arithmetic involved the bilateral parietal brain regions. Although behavioral and neuropsychological studies have revealed the dissociation between algebra and arithmetic, how algebraic processing is dissociated from arithmetic in brain networks is still unclear. Methods Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), this study scanned 30 undergraduates and directly compared the brain activation during algebra and arithmetic. Brain activations, single-trial (item-wise) interindividual correlation and mean-trial interindividual correlation related to algebra processing were compared with those related to arithmetic. Results Brain activation analyses showed that algebra elicited greater activation in the angular gyrus and arithmetic elicited greater activation in the bilateral supplementary motor area, left insula, and left inferior parietal lobule. Interindividual single-trial brain-behavior correlation revealed significant brain-behavior correlations in the semantic network, including the middle temporal gyri, inferior frontal gyri, dorsomedial prefrontal cortices, and left angular gyrus, for algebra. For arithmetic, the significant brain-behavior correlations were located in the phonological network, including the precentral gyrus and supplementary motor area, and in the visuospatial network, including the bilateral superior parietal lobules. Conclusion These findings suggest that algebra relies on the semantic network and arithmetic relies on the phonological and visuospatial networks.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-284
Author(s):  
Sylwia Pyrtek ◽  
Arkadiusz Badziński ◽  
Monika Adamczyk-Sowa ◽  
Maria Pąchalska

The aim of the study is to present Gerstmann syndrome, manifested as a neuropsychological deficit resulting from the damage to the parietal lobe of the left hemisphere. Here it is discussed based on the studies conducted mainly since the 1950’s when it attracted considerable interest, as well as and controversy at the same time. The classic symptoms are briefly described, including the clinical tasks useful in any the diagnosis for during the neuropsychological assessment. The paper also presents recent studies and a alternative different proposal for the understanding of this clinical syndrome. Josef Gerstmann described a clinical tetrad in his patients, which was later to be known as Gerstmann syndrome. The symptoms included finger agnosia, agraphia, acalculia and left-right disorientation. He associated the above symptoms with damage to the left angular gyrus, hence the alternative a different name for of the syndrome i.e., the angular gyrus syndrome. The existence of the syndrome was questioned for some time, something which was never approved by Gerstmann. Currently, the occurrence of the syndrome is confirmed by studies. However, the full and pure tetrad of the classic symptoms as observed is not common. The clinical picture of the syndrome often usually remains incomplete and is related to other neuropsychological deficits such as aphasia, which frequently occurs. In modern considerations, the language deficiencies of semantic aphasia are not treated as non- Gerstmann syndrome, disturbing its pure form, but are considered to be a part of Gerstmann syndrome as such.


Author(s):  
Anna K. Bonkhoff ◽  
Jae-Sung Lim ◽  
Hee-Joon Bae ◽  
Nick A. Weaver ◽  
Hugo J. Kuijf ◽  
...  

SummaryCognitive impairment is a frequent and disabling sequela of stroke. There is however incomplete understanding of how lesion topographies in the left and right cerebral hemisphere brain interact to cause distinct cognitive deficits. We integrated machine learning and Bayesian hierarchical modeling to enable hemisphere-aware analysis of 1080 subacute ischemic stroke patients with deep profiling ∼3 months after stroke. We show relevance of the left hemisphere in the prediction of language and memory assessments, while global cognitive impairments were equally well predicted by lesion topographies from both sides. Damage to the hippocampal and occipital regions on the left were particularly informative about lost naming and memory function. Global cognitive impairment was predominantly linked to lesioned tissue in supramarginal and angular gyrus, the postcentral gyrus as well as the lateral occipital and opercular cortices of the left hemisphere. Hence, our analysis strategy uncovered that lesion patterns with unique hemispheric distributions are characteristic of how cognitive capacity is lost due to ischemic brain tissue damage.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingying Wu ◽  
Yikang Cao ◽  
Binyin Li ◽  
Xize Jia ◽  
Li Cao

Abstract Objective: CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy is an adult-onset white matter disease with high disability and mortality, while current diagnostic approaches are prone to misdiagnosis and not sensitive enough for pre-clinical alternations. This study introduced amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) based on resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) to compare the spontaneous brain activities of patients and healthy controls, aiming to provide early clues for disease onset and enhance our understanding of the disease.Methods: RsfMRI was performed on 11 patients and 23 healthy controls and preprocessed for calculation of ALFF and ReHo. Permutation tests with threshold free cluster enhancement (number of permutations =5,000) was applied for comparison. Voxels with P value<0.05 (family-wise error corrected) and cluster size>10 voxels was considered with significant difference.Results: Compared to controls, the patient group showed decreased ALFF in right paracentral lobule and precentral gyrus, and increased ALFF in left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, left postcentral gyrus, left precentral gyrus, right precuneus, as well as bilateral insula, parahippocampal gyrus, hippocampus, midbrain and cingulate gyrus. Decreased ReHo was found in bilateral supplementary motor area and paracentral lobule of patients, while ReHo increased in right superior occipital gyrus, right precentral gyrus, left angular gyrus, as well as bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, hippocampus, middle occipital gyrus, supramarginal gyrus and extra-nuclear.Conclusion: These results revealed altered spontaneous brain activities in CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy, especially in limbic system and supplementary motor area, which may serve as an early biomarker for the onset, and shed light on disease mechanisms.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elinor Tzvi ◽  
Leila Gajiyeva ◽  
Laura Bindel ◽  
Gesa Hartwigsen ◽  
Joseph Classen

The cerebellum and its interaction with cortical areas play a key role in our ability to flexibly adapt a motor program in response to sensory input. Current knowledge about specific neural mechanisms underlying the process of visuomotor adaptation is however lacking. Using a novel placement of EEG electrodes to record electric activity from the cerebellum, we studied local cerebellar activity, as well as its coupling with neocortical activity to obtain direct neurophysiological markers of visuomotor adaptation in humans. We found increased theta (4-8Hz) power in cerebellar as well as cortical electrodes, when subjects first encountered a visual perturbation. Theta power decreased as subjects adapted to the perturbation, and rebounded when the perturbation was suddenly removed. This effect was observed in two distinct locations: a cerebellar cluster and a central cluster, which were localized in left cerebellar crus I (lCB) and right supplementary motor area (rSMA) using linear constrained minimum variance beamforming. Importantly, we found that better adaptation was associated with increased theta power in left cerebellar electrodes and a right sensorimotor cortex electrode. Finally, increased rSMA -> lCB connectivity was significantly decreased with adaptation. These results demonstrate that: (1) cerebellar theta power is markedly modulated over the course of visuomotor adaptation and (2) theta oscillations could serve as a key mechanism for communication within a cortico-cerebellar loop.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 710-727
Author(s):  
Beula M. Magimairaj ◽  
Naveen K. Nagaraj ◽  
Alexander V. Sergeev ◽  
Natalie J. Benafield

Objectives School-age children with and without parent-reported listening difficulties (LiD) were compared on auditory processing, language, memory, and attention abilities. The objective was to extend what is known so far in the literature about children with LiD by using multiple measures and selective novel measures across the above areas. Design Twenty-six children who were reported by their parents as having LiD and 26 age-matched typically developing children completed clinical tests of auditory processing and multiple measures of language, attention, and memory. All children had normal-range pure-tone hearing thresholds bilaterally. Group differences were examined. Results In addition to significantly poorer speech-perception-in-noise scores, children with LiD had reduced speed and accuracy of word retrieval from long-term memory, poorer short-term memory, sentence recall, and inferencing ability. Statistically significant group differences were of moderate effect size; however, standard test scores of children with LiD were not clinically poor. No statistically significant group differences were observed in attention, working memory capacity, vocabulary, and nonverbal IQ. Conclusions Mild signal-to-noise ratio loss, as reflected by the group mean of children with LiD, supported the children's functional listening problems. In addition, children's relative weakness in select areas of language performance, short-term memory, and long-term memory lexical retrieval speed and accuracy added to previous research on evidence-based areas that need to be evaluated in children with LiD who almost always have heterogenous profiles. Importantly, the functional difficulties faced by children with LiD in relation to their test results indicated, to some extent, that commonly used assessments may not be adequately capturing the children's listening challenges. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12808607


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