Brains in dialogue: decoding neural preparation of speaking to a conversational partner.
In dialogue, language processing is adapted to the conversational partner. We hypothesize that the brain facilitates partner-adapted language processing through preparatory neural configurations (task sets) that are tailored to the conversational partner. In this experiment, we measured neural activity with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while healthy participants in the scanner (a) engaged in a verbal communication task with a conversational partner outside of the scanner, or (b) spoke outside of a conversational context (to test the microphone). Using multivariate searchlight analysis, we identify cortical regions that represent information on whether speakers plan to speak to a conversational partner or without having a partner. Most notably a region that has been associated with processing social-affective information and perspective taking, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, as well as regions that have been associated with prospective task representation, the bilateral ventral prefrontal cortex, are involved in encoding the speaking condition. Our results suggest that speakers prepare, in advance of speaking, for the social context in which they will speak.
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH); Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging, Department of Neurology, and Excellence Cluster NeuroCure, Berlin, Germany.|Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin School of Mind and Brain and Institute of Psychology, Berlin, Germany.
Anna K
AK
Kuhlen
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH); Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging, Department of Neurology, and Excellence Cluster NeuroCure, Berlin, Germany.
Carsten
C
Bogler
Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
Susan E
SE
Brennan
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH); Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging, Department of Neurology, and Excellence Cluster NeuroCure, Berlin, Germany.|Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin School of Mind and Brain and Institute of Psychology, Berlin, Germany.
John-Dylan
JD
Haynes
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007802:Language; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012919:Social Behavior; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D056345:Theory of Mind; D055815:Young Adult
conversational interaction; mentalizing; multivariate decoding; neuroimaging; task set