How the brain understands spoken language in autism
Official title: Functional organization of the superior temporal gyrus for speech perception
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11361054 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers study how the brain processes speech sounds so people with autism may benefit from improved communication therapies in the future.
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 start | April 1, 2012 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $681,817 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC012379-15 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361054 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with autism or related speech-language challenges who are undergoing neurosurgical procedures permitting brain recordings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing neurosurgical procedures or without language-processing difficulties may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the brain transforms sounds into meaningful speech by recording brain activity from the surface during neurosurgical procedures. Using high-density electrode grids and advanced signal processing, researchers map how speech sounds are encoded in the superior temporal gyrus and related areas. The goal is to understand how consonants, vowels, and the rhythm of speech are represented and integrated to form understandable language. Findings could inform new approaches to speech therapy and communication strategies for individuals with autism who have language processing differences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of how speech is represented in the brain could lead to improved language therapies and interventions for people with autism.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that brain recordings can reveal how speech sounds are represented, supporting the potential for meaningful advances, though this exact approach is relatively specialized.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chang, Edward — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Chang, Edward
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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.