1. Neural processing of language in the absence of auditory input Naja Ferjan Ramirez In collaboration with Matt Leonard, Christina Torres, Marla Hatrak, Eric Halgren, & Rachel Maybery Mayberry Lab Multimodal Imaging Lab Cognitive Neuroscience 2013 Spring Retreat & Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind Symposium

2. AUDITORY WORDS WRITTEN WORDS Are the neural underpinnings of word meaning dependent on auditory language experience? – Congenitally deaf individuals receive no auditory input – Some acquire sign language as their native language from birth Is the meaning of ASL signs in deaf native signers processed like the meaning of auditory & written words in hearing people (i.e. left dominant, fronto-temporal areas)? Early stages = modality specific Later stages = modality independent? Left dominant lexico-semantic network Marinkovic et al. 2003

3. 100200300400500600 ms amplitude 700 Word Onset Average waveform from single MEG sensor -Deaf native signers (n=11) watch ASL signs -Hearing English speakers (n=8) listen to English words Anatomically constrained Magnetoencephalography

4. Integrating MEG (temporal resolution)… 100200300400500600 ms 700 … with MRI (spatial resolution) Method: Dale et al, 2000

5. Sensory processing: Modality specific Lexico-semantic processing: Independent of modality through which early language is received Neural systems for high-level language processing are supramodal! Sign in native deaf 300-350 ms Speech in hearing 300-350 ms

6. Thank you! NSF BCS-0924539 NIH RO1DC012797