1
|
Holmlund TB, Chandler C, Foltz PW, Diaz-Asper C, Cohen AS, Rodriguez Z, Elvevåg B. Towards a temporospatial framework for measurements of disorganization in speech using semantic vectors. Schizophr Res 2023; 259:71-79. [PMID: 36372683 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Incoherent speech in schizophrenia has long been described as the mind making "leaps" of large distances between thoughts and ideas. Such a view seems intuitive, and for almost two decades, attempts to operationalize these conceptual "leaps" in spoken word meanings have used language-based embedding spaces. An embedding space represents meaning of words as numerical vectors where a greater proximity between word vectors represents more shared meaning. However, there are limitations with word vector-based operationalizations of coherence which can limit their appeal and utility in clinical practice. First, the use of esoteric word embeddings can be conceptually hard to grasp, and this is complicated by several different operationalizations of incoherent speech. This problem can be overcome by a better visualization of methods. Second, temporal information from the act of speaking has been largely neglected since models have been built using written text, yet speech is spoken in real time. This issue can be resolved by leveraging time stamped transcripts of speech. Third, contextual information - namely the situation of where something is spoken - has often only been inferred and never explicitly modeled. Addressing this situational issue opens up new possibilities for models with increased temporal resolution and contextual relevance. In this paper, direct visualizations of semantic distances are used to enable the inspection of examples of incoherent speech. Some common operationalizations of incoherence are illustrated, and suggestions are made for how temporal and spatial contextual information can be integrated in future implementations of measures of incoherence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Terje B Holmlund
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø - the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Chelsea Chandler
- Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado Boulder, United States of America
| | - Peter W Foltz
- Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado Boulder, United States of America
| | | | - Alex S Cohen
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, United States of America; Center for Computation and Technology, Louisiana State University, United States of America
| | - Zachary Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, United States of America; Center for Computation and Technology, Louisiana State University, United States of America
| | - Brita Elvevåg
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø - the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Norwegian Center for eHealth Research, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Addis L, Lin JJ, Pal DK, Hermann B, Caplan R. Imaging and genetics of language and cognition in pediatric epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2013; 26:303-12. [PMID: 23116771 PMCID: PMC3732317 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2012.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2012] [Accepted: 09/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents translational aspects of imaging and genetic studies of language and cognition in children with epilepsy of average intelligence. It also discusses current unanswered translational questions in each of these research areas. A brief review of multimodal imaging and language study findings shows that abnormal structure and function, as well as plasticity and reorganization in language-related cortical regions, are found both in children with epilepsy with normal language skills and in those with linguistic deficits. The review on cognition highlights that multiple domains of impaired cognition and abnormalities in brain structure and/or connectivity are evident early on in childhood epilepsy and might be specific for epilepsy syndrome. The description of state-of-the-art genetic analyses that can be used to explain the convergence of language impairment and Rolandic epilepsy includes a discussion of the methodological difficulties involved in these analyses. Two junior researchers describe how their current and planned studies address some of the unanswered translational questions regarding cognition and imaging and the genetic analysis of speech sound disorder, reading, and centrotemporal spikes in Rolandic epilepsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Addis
- Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Santosh PJ. A neural systems approach in autism spectrum disorders. Dev Med Child Neurol 2012; 54:206-7. [PMID: 22324642 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2012.04222.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
4
|
McNealy K, Mazziotta JC, Dapretto M. Age and experience shape developmental changes in the neural basis of language-related learning. Dev Sci 2011; 14:1261-82. [PMID: 22010887 PMCID: PMC3717169 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-7687.2011.01075.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Very little is known about the neural underpinnings of language learning across the lifespan and how these might be modified by maturational and experiential factors. Building on behavioral research highlighting the importance of early word segmentation (i.e. the detection of word boundaries in continuous speech) for subsequent language learning, here we characterize developmental changes in brain activity as this process occurs online, using data collected in a mixed cross-sectional and longitudinal design. One hundred and fifty-six participants, ranging from age 5 to adulthood, underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while listening to three novel streams of continuous speech, which contained either strong statistical regularities, strong statistical regularities and speech cues, or weak statistical regularities providing minimal cues to word boundaries. All age groups displayed significant signal increases over time in temporal cortices for the streams with high statistical regularities; however, we observed a significant right-to-left shift in the laterality of these learning-related increases with age. Interestingly, only the 5- to 10-year-old children displayed significant signal increases for the stream with low statistical regularities, suggesting an age-related decrease in sensitivity to more subtle statistical cues. Further, in a sample of 78 10-year-olds, we examined the impact of proficiency in a second language and level of pubertal development on learning-related signal increases, showing that the brain regions involved in language learning are influenced by both experiential and maturational factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin McNealy
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- FPR Center for Culture, Brain, and Development, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - John C. Mazziotta
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- The Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Pharmacology, and Radiological Sciences in the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Mirella Dapretto
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- The Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Pharmacology, and Radiological Sciences in the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Context- and Prosody-Driven ERP Markers for Dialog Focus Perception in Children. Brain Topogr 2011; 24:229-42. [DOI: 10.1007/s10548-011-0194-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2011] [Accepted: 07/02/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
6
|
Borofsky LA, McNealy K, Siddarth P, Wu KN, Dapretto M, Caplan R. Semantic Processing and Thought Disorder in Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia: Insights from fMRI. JOURNAL OF NEUROLINGUISTICS 2010; 23:204-222. [PMID: 22147958 PMCID: PMC3229826 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroling.2009.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Impairments in language processing and thought disorder are core symptoms of schizophrenia. Here we used fMRI to investigate functional abnormalities in the neural networks subserving sentence-level language processing in childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS). Fourteen children with COS (mean age: 13.34; IQ: 95) and 14 healthy controls (HC; mean age: 12.37; IQ: 104) underwent fMRI while performing a semantic judgment task previously shown to differentially engage semantic and syntactic processes. We report four main results. First, different patterns of functional specialization for semantic and syntactic processing were observed within each group, despite similar level of task performance. Second, after regressing out IQ, significant between-group differences were observed in the neural correlates of semantic and, to a lesser extent, syntactic processing, with HC children showing overall greater activity than COS children. Third, while these group differences were not related to effects of medications, a significant negative correlation was observed in the COS group between neuroleptic dosage and activity in the left inferior frontal gyrus for the semantic condition. Finally, COS children's level of thought disorder was significantly correlated with task-related activity in language-relevant networks. Taken together, these findings suggest that children with COS exhibit aberrant patterns of neural activity during semantic, and to a lesser extent syntactic, processing and that these functional abnormalities in language-relevant networks are significantly related to severity of thought disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L A Borofsky
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Language and brain volumes in children with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2010; 17:402-7. [PMID: 20149755 PMCID: PMC2892796 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2010.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2009] [Revised: 01/07/2010] [Accepted: 01/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In this study the relationship between language skill and frontotemporal volumes was compared in 69 medically treated subjects with epilepsy and 34 healthy children, aged 6.1-16.6 years. Also, whether patients with linguistic deficits had abnormal volumes and atypical associations between volumes and language skills in these brain regions was determined. The children underwent language testing and MRI scans at 1.5 T. Brain tissue was segmented and frontotemporal volumes were computed. Higher mean language scores were significantly associated with larger inferior frontal gyrus, temporal lobe, and posterior superior temporal gyrus gray matter volumes in the epilepsy group and in the children with epilepsy with average language scores. Increased total brain and dorsolateral prefrontal gray and white matter volumes, however, were associated with higher language scores in the healthy controls. Within the epilepsy group, linguistic deficits were related to smaller anterior superior temporal gyrus gray matter volumes and there was a negative association between language scores and dorsolateral prefrontal gray matter volumes. These findings demonstrate abnormal development of language-related brain regions, and imply differential reorganization of brain regions subserving language in children with epilepsy with normal linguistic skills and in those with impaired language.
Collapse
|
8
|
Sabb FW, van Erp TG, Hardt ME, Dapretto M, Caplan R, Cannon TD, Bearden CE. Language network dysfunction as a predictor of outcome in youth at clinical high risk for psychosis. Schizophr Res 2010; 116:173-83. [PMID: 19861234 PMCID: PMC2818263 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2009.09.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2009] [Revised: 09/27/2009] [Accepted: 09/30/2009] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Language processing abnormalities are a hallmark feature of schizophrenia. Yet, no study to date has investigated underlying neural networks associated with discourse processing in adolescents at clinical high risk (CHR) for developing psychosis(1). METHODS Forty CHR youth and 24 demographically comparable healthy controls underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a naturalistic discourse processing paradigm. We assessed differences in blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) activity between task conditions (Topic Maintenance vs. Reasoning) and between groups. Furthermore, we examined the association of regional brain activity with symptom severity and social outcome at follow-up, 6 to 24 months after the scan. RESULTS Relative to controls, CHR participants showed increased neural activity in a network of language-associated brain regions, including the medial prefrontal cortex bilaterally, left inferior frontal (LIFG; BA44/45, 47) and middle temporal gyri, and the anterior cingulate (BA24 and 32). Further, increased activity in the superior temporal gyrus (STG), caudate, and LIFG distinguished those who subsequently developed psychosis. Within the CHR sample, severity of positive formal thought disorder at follow-up was positively correlated with signal change in the LIFG, superior frontal gyrus, and inferior/middle temporal gyri, whereas social outcome was inversely correlated with signal change in the LIFG and anterior cingulate. CONCLUSIONS These findings are consistent with a neural inefficiency hypothesis in those at greatest risk for psychosis, and additionally suggest that baseline activation differences may predict symptomatic and functional outcome. These results highlight the need to further investigate the neural systems involved in conversion to psychosis, and how language disruption changes over time in at-risk adolescents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fred W. Sabb
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Box 956968, Rm 2265, 300 Medical Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6968
| | - Theo G.M. van Erp
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563
| | - Molly E. Hardt
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563
| | - Mirella Dapretto
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Box 956968, Rm 2265, 300 Medical Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6968
| | - Rochelle Caplan
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Box 956968, Rm 2265, 300 Medical Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6968
| | - Tyrone D. Cannon
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Box 956968, Rm 2265, 300 Medical Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6968, Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563
| | - Carrie E. Bearden
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Box 956968, Rm 2265, 300 Medical Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6968, Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Thought disorder and frontotemporal volumes in pediatric epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2008; 13:593-9. [PMID: 18652915 PMCID: PMC2746463 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2008] [Revised: 06/19/2008] [Accepted: 06/19/2008] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine if volumes of frontotemporal regions associated with language were related to thought disorder in 42 children, aged 5-16 years, with cryptogenic epilepsy, all of whom had complex partial seizures (CPS). The children with CPS and 41 age- and gender-matched healthy children underwent brain MRI scans at 1.5 T. Tissue was segmented, and total brain, frontal lobe, and temporal lobe volumes were computed. Thought disorder measures, IQ, and seizure information were collected for each patient. The subjects with CPS had more thought disorder, smaller total gray matter and orbital frontal gray matter volumes, as well as larger temporal lobe white matter volumes than the control group. In the CPS group, thought disorder was significantly related to smaller orbital frontal and inferior frontal gray matter volumes, increased Heschl's gyrus gray matter volumes, and smaller superior temporal gyrus white matter volumes. However, significantly larger orbital frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, and temporal lobe gray matter volumes and decreased Heschl's gyrus white matter volumes were associated with thought disorder in the control group. These findings suggest that thought disorder might represent a developmental disability involving frontotemporal regions associated with language in pediatric CPS.
Collapse
|
10
|
Chiu Wong SB, Chapman SB, Cook LG, Anand R, Gamino JF, Devous MD. A SPECT study of language and brain reorganization three years after pediatric brain injury. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2007; 157:173-185. [PMID: 17167907 DOI: 10.1016/s0079-6123(06)57011-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), we investigated brain plasticity in children 3 years after sustaining a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). First, we assessed brain perfusion patterns (i.e., the extent of brain blood flow to regions of the brain) at rest in eight children who suffered severe TBI as compared to perfusion patterns in eight normally developing children. Second, we examined differences in perfusion between children with severe TBI who showed good versus poor recovery in complex discourse skills. Specifically, the children were asked to produce and abstract core meaning for two stories in the form of a lesson. Inconsistent with our predictions, children with severe TBI showed areas of increased perfusion as compared to normally developing controls. Adult studies have shown the reverse pattern with TBI associated with reduced perfusion. With regard to the second aim and consistent with previously identified brain-discourse relations, we found a strong positive association between perfusion in right frontal regions and discourse abstraction abilities, with higher perfusion linked to better discourse outcomes and lower perfusion linked to poorer discourse outcomes. Furthermore, brain-discourse patterns of increased perfusion in left frontal regions were associated with lower discourse abstraction ability. The results are discussed in terms of how brain changes may represent adaptive and maladaptive plasticity. The findings offer direction for future studies of brain plasticity in response to neurocognitive treatments.
Collapse
|