How the Brain Understands Spoken Language
Functional organization of the superior temporal gyrus for speech perception
This work explores how the human brain processes speech sounds to help us understand spoken language, especially for individuals with conditions like Autistic Disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11135347 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We are learning more about how the brain picks out basic speech sounds like consonants and vowels from the complex sounds we hear. This project aims to discover how these sounds are put together into words and continuous speech, focusing on a specific brain area called the superior temporal gyrus. By recording brain activity directly during neurosurgical procedures, we can get a very detailed look at how the brain encodes speech. This helps us understand the fundamental ways our brains process language.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients undergoing specific neurosurgical procedures who are willing to participate in brain activity recordings may be ideal candidates for this type of research.
Not a fit: Patients not undergoing neurosurgical procedures or those without communication disorders related to speech perception may not directly benefit from this specific research approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of speech perception, which may inform new ways to help individuals with communication challenges, including those with Autistic Disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has provided initial insights into how the brain extracts basic linguistic elements, and this work builds upon those findings to address more complex questions about speech sequencing and integration.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chang, Edward — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Chang, Edward
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.