Selective attention to lexical tones recruits left dorsal frontoparietal network.
Phonological processing activates a posterior superior region of inferior prefrontal cortex, but questions still remain about the relationship between phonology and this particular region. In this fMRI experiment, subjects were asked to match an intrasyllabic unit (Chinese tones) in an experimental condition vs. whole syllables in a control condition. The only difference between conditions is mediated by focus of attention, either to a subpart (i.e. tone) of the syllable or to the whole syllable itself. Phonetic extraction of Chinese tones reveals a dorsal frontoparietal network in the LH that engages selective attention and internal guidance, two mediational components that are not restricted to phonological processing.
Li
Xiaojian
X
Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Gandour
Jack
J
Talavage
Thomas
T
Wong
Donald
D
Dzemidzic
Mario
M
Lowe
Mark
M
Tong
Yunxia
Y
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*