The Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Sweden.
Neuropsychologia. 2013 Mar;51(4):656-66. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2012.12.011. Epub 2012 Dec 31.
Neural networks underpinning working memory demonstrate sign language specific components possibly related to differences in temporary storage mechanisms. A processing approach to memory systems suggests that the organisation of memory storage is related to type of memory processing as well. In the present study, we investigated for the first time semantic, phonological and orthographic processing in working memory for sign- and speech-based language. During fMRI we administered a picture-based 2-back working memory task with Semantic, Phonological, Orthographic and Baseline conditions to 11 deaf signers and 20 hearing non-signers. Behavioural data showed poorer and slower performance for both groups in Phonological and Orthographic conditions than in the Semantic condition, in line with depth-of-processing theory. An exclusive masking procedure revealed distinct sign-specific neural networks supporting working memory components at all three levels of processing. The overall pattern of sign-specific activations may reflect a relative intermodality difference in the relationship between phonology and semantics influencing working memory storage and processing.
神经网络是工作记忆的基础，它表现出与手语特定成分相关的可能与临时存储机制差异有关的成分。一种记忆系统的处理方法表明，记忆存储的组织与记忆处理的类型有关。在本研究中，我们首次研究了手语和口语语言的工作记忆中的语义、语音和正字法加工。在 fMRI 期间，我们向 11 名聋人手语使用者和 20 名听力非手语使用者施行了基于图片的 2 回工作记忆任务，具有语义、语音、正字法和基线条件。行为数据表明，两组在语音和正字法条件下的表现都比语义条件差且速度慢，这与深度加工理论一致。一种独特的掩蔽程序揭示了支持工作记忆各个成分的特定于手语的神经网络，这些成分在所有三个处理水平上都存在。手语特定激活的总体模式可能反映了语音和语义之间关系的相对跨模态差异，影响工作记忆存储和处理。
