5th November SSF - Xing Tian

Talk Title: Disseting the internal forward mechanisms in speech production

Abstract:

We need to efficiently control our speech. Major speech production models have all assumed an internal forward mechanism as a core component in the feedback control. However, the function and neural underpinnings of the internal forward mechanisms, especially in speech production, are still not clear. Specifically, 1) is the prediction generated in the internal forward mechanisms always inhibitory to achieve the control function? 2) What and how is the neural network mediating the internal forward mechanisms in speech production? We hypothesized that 1) the nature of the internal forward signals depended on the contents and stages during actions, and 2) a dedicated frontal-parietal-temporal network mediated the internal forward mechanisms in speech production. In a series of studies using novel behavioral (imagery and preparation), electrophysiological (EEG and MEG), and neuroimaging (fMRI) approaches in the combination of computational modeling, we provided evidence that supported our hypotheses. The functional and anatomical dissection of the internal forward mechanisms could be a neural-computational foundation that inspires an updated speech production and control model.