Wong Patrick C M
Department of Neurology, Brain Research Imaging Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Brain Res Bull. 2002 Oct 30;59(2):83-95. doi: 10.1016/s0361-9230(02)00860-2.
Pitch is used to signal different aspects of language such as speaker identity, intonation, emphatic stress, and word identity (as signaled by lexical tones). This article reviews research studies investigating hemispheric specialization of these pitch patterns in the context of two competing hypotheses. The functional hypothesis states that pitch patterns are lateralized to different hemispheres of the brain depending on their functions. Those pitch patterns that carry a greater linguistic load (e.g., lexical tones) are lateralized to the left hemisphere, while those that carry a less linguistic load (e.g., intonation patterns signaling affective moods) are lateralized to the right hemisphere. The alternative hypothesis, the acoustic hypothesis, states that all pitch patterns, regardless of their functions, are lateralized to one hemisphere (the right hemisphere in particular). Although most researchers support the functional hypothesis, a comprehensive review, which includes lesion, dichotic-listening, and functional imaging studies of different types of pitch patterns, does not support this view. Moreover, little evidence exists for the alternative hypothesis. Possible methodological problems of these studies, alternative hypotheses, and considerations for future research are noted.
音高用于表示语言的不同方面，如说话者身份、语调、强调重音和单词身份（由词汇调表示）。本文回顾了在两种相互竞争的假设背景下，研究这些音高模式半球特化的研究。功能假设认为，音高模式根据其功能在大脑的不同半球侧化。那些承载更大语言负荷的音高模式（如词汇调）侧化到左半球，而那些承载较少语言负荷的音高模式（如表示情感情绪的语调模式）侧化到右半球。另一种假设，即声学假设，认为所有音高模式，无论其功能如何，都侧化到一个半球（特别是右半球）。尽管大多数研究人员支持功能假设，但一项综合综述，包括对不同类型音高模式的损伤、双耳分听和功能成像研究，并不支持这一观点。此外，也几乎没有证据支持另一种假设。文中指出了这些研究可能存在的方法学问题、其他假设以及对未来研究的考虑因素。
