Somesthesic Role of the Ventro-lateral Prefrontal Cortex in Speech Motor Learning

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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These studies test the hypothesis that frontal areas of the brain participate in the cortical networks involved in the somotosensory processing that happens during speech motor learning.

Detailed Description
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This work aims to study the role of sensory systems in human motor learning and specifically addresses the involvement of somatosensory cortical networks in motor learning of speech. Previous studies in the literature have highlighted the plasticity of cortical sensory networks, notably the primary and secondary somatosensory cortex and the ventral premotor cortex, during motor learning tasks. The present project focuses on the somatosensory region with connections to the sensorimotor regions of the frontal and parietal cortex. We propose to use neuroimaging (fMRI), in order to verify which areas in the prefrontal cortex are part of the sensorimotor network used in the learning of speech motor tasks in humans. Subjects will be tested in the fMRI scanner while performing either a behavioral task in which the auditory feedback of their own speech is altered or while performing a vibrotactile discrimination task.

Official Title
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Somesthesic Role of the Ventro-lateral Prefrontal Cortex in Speech Motor Learning fMRI Study

Conditions
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Speech, Motor Activity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Speech adaptation
* Behavioral: Vibrotactile Discrimination
* Other: fMRI
* Behavioral: Speech production


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Right-handed subjects Subjects fluent in French Signed informed consent Affiliation to or beneficiary of a Social Security scheme Exclusion Criteria: Left-handed subjects Criteria for contraindications to protocol fMRI scans Existence of a severe general condition: cardiac, respiratory, hematological, renal, hepatic, cancerous. Hearing, language (including dyslexia), neurological or psychiatric disorders. Participation in other ongoing intervention research protocols with exclusionary period or within the previous week Drug treatment likely to modulate brain activity: benzodiazepines, antidepressants, neuroleptics, lithium, etc. Protected persons referred to in articles L1121 5 to L1121 8 of the French CSP: Pregnant women, parturients, nursing mothers, Persons deprived of liberty by a judicial or administrative decision, Persons under psychiatric care, Individuals admitted to a health or social institution for purposes other than research, Minors, Persons over the age of majority who are subject to a legal protection measure or who are unable to express their consent

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Adaptation to altered auditory feedback<br>fMRI measurement of brain activity during speech production under altered auditory feedback | Behavioral: Speech adaptation<br>* Sensorimotor adaptation in speech<br>Other: fMRI<br>* fMRI measurement of brain activity<br>|
| Experimental: Speech production<br>fMRI measurement of brain activity during normal speech production | Other: fMRI<br>* fMRI measurement of brain activity<br>Behavioral: Speech production<br>* Speech production task<br>|
| Experimental: Vibrotactile discrimination<br>fMRI measurement of brain activity during a vibrotactile discrimination task | Behavioral: Vibrotactile Discrimination<br>* Vibrotactile Discrimination<br>Other: fMRI<br>* fMRI measurement of brain activity<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Motor Learning | Learning is assessed as percentage change in speech sounds (speech formant frequencies) relative to baseline. | Performance as measured at the end of learning (during the 1h30 scanner session) | 
| Brain activity | Brain activity are measure by the BOLD signal during both task-based and resting-state blocks | 1h30 scanner session |