RT Journal Article
T1 Neurocognitive signatures of phonemic sequencing in expert backward speakers
A1 Torres-Prioris, María José
A1 López-Barroso, Diana
A1 Càmara, Estela
A1 Fittipaldi, Sol
A1 Sedeño, Lucas
A1 Ibáñez, Agustín
A1 Berthier, Marcelo L.
A1 García, Adolfo M.
K1 Diffusion tensor imaging
K1 Gray matter
K1 Brain
K1 Functional neuroimaging
K1 Magnetic resonance imaging
K1 Memory, short-term
K1 Speech
K1 Imagen de difusión tensora
K1 Sustancia gris
K1 Encéfalo
K1 Neuroimagen funcional
K1 Imagen por resonancia magnética
K1 Memoria a corto plazo
K1 Habla
AB Despite its prolific growth, neurolinguistic research on phonemic sequencing has largely neglected the study of individuals with highly developed skills in this domain. To bridge this gap, we report multidimensional signatures of two experts in backward speech, that is, the capacity to produce utterances by reversing the order of phonemes while retaining their identity. Our approach included behavioral assessments of backward and forward speech alongside neuroimaging measures of voxel-based morphometry, diffusion tensor imaging, and resting-state functional connectivity. Relative to controls, both backward speakers exhibited behavioral advantages for reversing words and sentences of varying complexity, irrespective of working memory skills. These patterns were accompanied by increased grey matter volume, higher mean diffusivity, and enhanced functional connectivity along dorsal and ventral stream regions mediating phonological and other linguistic operations, with complementary support of areas subserving associative-visual and domain-general processes. Still, the specific loci of these neural patterns differed between both subjects, suggesting individual variability in the correlates of expert backward speech. Taken together, our results offer new vistas on the domain of phonemic sequencing, while illuminating neuroplastic patterns underlying extraordinary language abilities.
PB Springer Nature
YR 2020
FD 2020-06-30
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/3680
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/3680
LA en
NO Torres-Prioris MJ, López-Barroso D, Càmara E, Fittipaldi S, Sedeño L, Ibáñez A, et al. Neurocognitive signatures of phonemic sequencing in expert backward speakers. Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 30;10(1):10621
DS RISalud
RD Apr 19, 2025