聋人早期手语经验对脑功能及结构的塑造作用

语言经验对脑功能和结构发展有重要的塑造作用。然而, 目前的相关证据主要来自对脑损伤导致的失语症病人的语言康复、第二语言学习以及针对成人读者进行的语言训练等方面的研究。幼儿时期的早期语言经验对脑结构与功能发展的影响更加重要, 但直接的研究证据却相当缺乏。本文提出一个研究设想, 拟综合使用多种脑成像技术, 系统探讨有早期手语经验和无早期手语经验的聋人个体在脑皮层语言功能的组织及脑结构发育的差异, 包括语言任务中大脑语言区的激活模式, 静息状态下脑功能联结的默认网络特征, 脑皮层灰质密度, 以及神经纤维束发育状况等, 揭示早期语言经验对大脑功能和结构发育的塑造作用。

The Role of Early Sign-language Experience in Shaping the Structure and Function of the Deaf Brain

Language is unique to human being, and language experience is critical in shaping both functional and anatomical development of human brain. Specifically, the initial experience at the early stage of the development is extremely important. However, few neuro-imaging studies have been done to investigate this issue. In this paper, we raised a proposal to explore the impact of age of first language acquisition with comparing deaf native signers who have early sign language experience and nonnative signers who have no sign language experience. We will compare the functional development of the brain in both groups, including the working neural network underlying language comprehension and production, and the default network in resting state. We will also compared the structural development by measuring the gray matter volume (density) and the fractional anisotropy (FA) values of whiter matter, to explore how early language experience shapes both function and structure of the brain.