Journal article
Are mirror neurons the basis of speech perception? Evidence from five cases with damage to the purported human mirror system
Neurocase, Vol.17(2), pp.178-187
03/11/2011
DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2010.509318
PMCID: PMC3681806
PMID: 21207313
Abstract
The discovery of mirror neurons in macaque has led to a resurrection of motor theories of speech perception. Although the majority of lesion and functional imaging studies have associated perception with the temporal lobes, it has also been proposed that the 'human mirror system', which prominently includes Broca's area, is the neurophysiological substrate of speech perception. Although numerous studies have demonstrated a tight link between sensory and motor speech processes, few have directly assessed the critical prediction of mirror neuron theories of speech perception, namely that damage to the human mirror system should cause severe deficits in speech perception. The present study measured speech perception abilities of patients with lesions involving motor regions in the left posterior frontal lobe and/or inferior parietal lobule (i.e., the proposed human 'mirror system'). Performance was at or near ceiling in patients with fronto-parietal lesions. It is only when the lesion encroaches on auditory regions in the temporal lobe that perceptual deficits are evident. This suggests that 'mirror system' damage does not disrupt speech perception, but rather that auditory systems are the primary substrate for speech perception.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Are mirror neurons the basis of speech perception? Evidence from five cases with damage to the purported human mirror system
- Creators
- Corianne Rogalsky - Dana and David Dornsife Cognitive Neuroscience Imaging Center, Brain & Creativity Institute, University of Southern CaliforniaTracy Love - Department of Psychology , University of CaliforniaDavid Driscoll - Department of Neurology , University of IowaSteven W Anderson - Department of Neurology , University of IowaGregory Hickok - Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Sciences , University of California
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Neurocase, Vol.17(2), pp.178-187
- DOI
- 10.1080/13554794.2010.509318
- PMID
- 21207313
- PMCID
- PMC3681806
- NLM abbreviation
- Neurocase
- ISSN
- 1355-4794
- eISSN
- 1465-3656
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Group
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/11/2011
- Academic Unit
- Neurology
- Record Identifier
- 9984020850602771
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