Hirshorn Elizabeth A, Wrencher Alaina, Durisko Corrine, Moore Michelle W, Fiez Julie A
University of Pittsburgh.
West Virginia University.
J Cogn Neurosci. 2016 Jun;28(6):882-94. doi: 10.1162/jocn_a_00940. Epub 2016 Feb 26.
Writing systems vary in many ways, making it difficult to account for cross-linguistic neural differences. For example, orthographic processing of Chinese characters activates the mid-fusiform gyri (mFG) bilaterally, whereas the processing of English words predominantly activates the left mFG. Because Chinese and English vary in visual processing (holistic vs. analytical) and linguistic mapping principle (morphosyllabic vs. alphabetic), either factor could account for mFG laterality differences. We used artificial orthographies representing English to investigate the effect of mapping principle on mFG lateralization. The fMRI data were compared for two groups that acquired foundational proficiency: one for an alphabetic and one for an alphasyllabic artificial orthography. Greater bilateral mFG activation was observed in the alphasyllabic versus alphabetic group. The degree of bilaterality correlated with reading fluency for the learned orthography in the alphasyllabic but not alphabetic group. The results suggest that writing systems with a syllable-based mapping principle recruit bilateral mFG to support orthographic processing. Implications for individuals with left mFG dysfunction will be discussed.
书写系统在很多方面存在差异，这使得解释跨语言的神经差异变得困难。例如，汉字的正字法加工会双侧激活梭状回中部（mFG），而英语单词的加工主要激活左侧mFG。由于中文和英文在视觉加工（整体加工与分析加工）和语言映射原则（形音节原则与字母原则）上存在差异，这两个因素都可能导致mFG偏侧化差异。我们使用代表英语的人工拼写来研究映射原则对mFG偏侧化的影响。对获得基础熟练程度的两组进行功能磁共振成像（fMRI）数据比较：一组学习字母拼写，另一组学习字母音节拼写。与字母拼写组相比，字母音节拼写组观察到双侧mFG激活更强。双侧激活程度与字母音节拼写组中所学拼写的阅读流畅性相关，但与字母拼写组无关。结果表明，具有基于音节映射原则的书写系统会调动双侧mFG来支持正字法加工。将讨论对左侧mFG功能障碍个体的影响。
