Sign Language: How the Brain Represents Phonology without Sound

Karen Emmorey

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.017

Sign Language: How the Brain Represents Phonology without Sound

Curr Biol. 2020 Nov 16;30(22):R1361-R1363. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.017.

Author

Karen Emmorey¹

Affiliation

¹ School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, 6495 Alvarado Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92120, USA. Electronic address: kemmorey@sdsu.edu.

Abstract

A rare case of a deaf signer undergoing awake craniotomy has revealed that sensorimotor cortex is functionally organized for signing. Electrocorticography recordings indicated neural tuning to linguistically-relevant handshapes and body locations and distinct neural activity for linguistic versus transitional movements.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Comment

MeSH terms

Electrocorticography
Humans
Linguistics
Sensorimotor Cortex*
Sign Language*
United States
Wakefulness

Grants and funding

R01 DC010997/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States