New research suggests both sides of the brain are involved in speech; the finding could help medical researchers find better rehabilitation methods for stroke and brain injury victims.
"Our findings upend what has been universally accepted in the scientific community -- that we use only one side of our brains for speech," Bijan Pesaran, an associate professor in NYU's Center for Neural Science and the study's senior author said in an NYU news release. "In addition, now that we have a firmer understanding of how speech is generated, our work toward finding remedies for speech afflictions is much better informed."
Many researchers believe only one side of the brain is responsible for speech and language, or that it is "lateralized"; but this theory is based off studies that were based on "indirect measurements of brain activity," the news release reported.
The researchers decided to take a direct look at connection between the neurological process and speech using data obtained at NYU ECoG. The center implanted patients with specialized electrodes that are placed on the surface of the brain and record activity while the subjects perform cognitive tasks. All of the subjects were epileptic, so the study coincided with their treatment.
"Recordings directly from the human brain are a rare opportunity," Thomas Thesen, director of the NYU ECoG Center and co-author of the study said. "As such, they offer unparalleled spatial and temporal resolution over other imaging technologies to help us achieve a better understanding of complex and uniquely human brain functions, such as language."
The researchers looked at the subjects' brain activity while they repeated non-words such as "kig" and "pob." The team found both sides of the brain were involved in the speech process.
"Now that we have greater insights into the connection between the brain and speech, we can begin to develop new ways to aid those trying to regain the ability to speak after a stroke or injuries resulting in brain damage," Pesaran said. "With this greater understanding of the speech process, we can retool rehabilitation methods in ways that isolate speech recovery and that don't involve language."
