Koyama S, Kakigi R, Hoshiyama M, Kitamura Y
Department of Integrative Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan.
Neuropsychologia. 1998 Jan;36(1):83-98. doi: 10.1016/s0028-3932(97)00097-3.
Magnetoencephalograms were recorded from six healthy Japanese subjects in order to investigate the areas in the cortices which are involved in the recognition of Japanese characters (Kanji and Kana). Forty-four Kanji (morphograms), 44 Kana (syllabograms) and 20 alphabet letters were used as stimuli. They were presented randomly and the subjects were required to read each stimulus and count the number of letters. The magnetic responses were recorded with dual 37-channel SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) gradiometers from the temporal, parietal and occipital areas of the brain. The magnetic responses to Kanji and Kana were similar and consequently the locations of equivalent current dipoles (ECDs) to Kanji and those to Kana did not differ at any recording site. In all the subjects, ECDs were found in the posterior inferior temporal (PIT) areas approximately corresponding to Brodmann area 37 in the latency range of 150-300 msec. These activities were found in both hemispheres without consistent laterality. The location of the ECD moved forward from posterior to anterior in the PIT area as the latency increased in all but one subject. Only one subject showed activities in the left angular gyrus. Since activities in PIT areas were also found in alphabet letters, the bilateral PIT areas are considered to play an essential role in reading.
为了研究大脑皮层中与日文字符（汉字和假名）识别相关的区域，对6名健康的日本受试者进行了脑磁图记录。使用44个汉字（象形文字）、44个假名（音节文字）和20个英文字母作为刺激物。这些刺激物随机呈现，要求受试者读出每个刺激物并计算字母数量。使用双37通道超导量子干涉装置（SQUID）梯度仪从大脑的颞叶、顶叶和枕叶区域记录磁响应。对汉字和假名的磁响应相似，因此在任何记录部位，与汉字和假名等效电流偶极子（ECD）的位置都没有差异。在所有受试者中，在潜伏期为150 - 300毫秒时，在大致对应于布罗德曼37区的颞叶后下部（PIT）区域发现了ECD。这些活动在两个半球均有发现，没有一致的偏侧性。除一名受试者外，在所有受试者中，随着潜伏期增加，ECD在PIT区域从后向前移动。只有一名受试者在左侧角回显示出活动。由于在英文字母中也发现了PIT区域的活动，因此双侧PIT区域被认为在阅读中起重要作用。
