Speech map in the human ventral sensory-motor cortex

David Conant; Kristofer E Bouchard; Edward F Chang

doi:10.1016/j.conb.2013.08.015

Speech map in the human ventral sensory-motor cortex

Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2014 Feb;24(1):63-7. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2013.08.015. Epub 2013 Sep 12.

Authors

David Conant¹, Kristofer E Bouchard¹, Edward F Chang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Department Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, United States.
² Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Department Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, United States. Electronic address: ChangEd@neurosurg.ucsf.edu.

Abstract

The study of spatial maps of the ventral sensory-motor cortex (vSMC) dates back to the earliest cortical stimulation studies. This review surveys a number of recent and historical reports of the features and function of spatial maps within vSMC towards the human behavior of speaking. Representations of the vocal tract, like other body parts, are arranged in a somatotopic fashion within ventral SMC. This region has unique features and connectivity that may give insight into its specialized function in speech production. New methods allow us to probe further into the functional role of this organization by studying the spatial dynamics of vSMC during natural speaking in humans.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Brain Mapping*
Humans
Motor Cortex / anatomy & histology*
Motor Cortex / physiology
Nerve Net / anatomy & histology*
Nerve Net / physiology
Somatosensory Cortex / anatomy & histology*
Somatosensory Cortex / physiology
Speech / physiology*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding