title: Shedding light on words and sentences: near-infrared spectroscopy in language research.
abstract: Investigating the neuronal network underlying language processing may contribute to a better understanding of how the brain masters this complex cognitive function with surprising ease and how language is acquired at a fast pace in infancy. Modern neuroimaging methods permit to visualize the evolvement and the function of the language network. The present paper focuses on a specific methodology, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), providing an overview over studies on auditory language processing and acquisition. The methodology detects oxygenation changes elicited by functional activation of the cerebral cortex. The main advantages for research on auditory language processing and its development during infancy are an undemanding application, the lack of instrumental noise, and its potential to simultaneously register electrophysiological responses. Also it constitutes an innovative approach for studying developmental issues in infants and children. The review will focus on studies on word and sentence processing including research in infants and adults.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstrasse 1a;04103 Leipzig, Germany. rossi@cbs.mpg.de
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Telkemeyer
authors.forename: Isabell
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wartenburger
authors.forename: Hellmuth
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Obrig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007802:Language; D007804:Language Development; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods*; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*