What was the result when researchers used fMRI to image brain activity while subjects listened to syllables that differed in place of articulation?
A) The motor region for lip movements was more active when hearing /p/, and the tongue movement area was more active when hearing /t/.
B) The motor region for tongue movements was more active when hearing /p/, and the lip movement area was more active when hearing /t/.
C) Brain activity during passive listening did not overlap with the brain regions active during speaking tasks.
D) Upon hearing any speech sound, all the articulatory regions were activated at once, as predicted by the motor theory of speech perception.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is based on studies using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to explore how the brain processes speech sounds. These studies have shown that when subjects listen to syllables that differ in place of articulation (e.g., bilabial /p/ versus alveolar /t/), the corresponding motor regions associated with producing these sounds are differentially activated. Specifically, the motor region for lip movements shows increased activity when subjects hear the sound /p/, which is produced with the lips, and the motor region for tongue movements is more active when hearing /t/, which is produced by placing the tongue against the alveolar ridge. This finding supports the idea that the perception of speech sounds involves simulating the motor actions required to produce those sounds, a concept related to the motor theory of speech perception.

What Was the Result When Researchers Used FMRI to Image