# Role of Articulatory Motor Areas in Central Processing of Speech Sounds in Human Brain

> **NIH NIH K23** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2022 · $199,292

## Abstract

Role of Articulatory Motor Areas in Central Processing of Speech Sounds in Human Brain
Project Summary/Abstract
 The overall goal of this K23 proposal is to provide Dr. Shasha Li, MD, PhD, with the mentorship and
career development necessary to become an independent, patient-oriented investigator whose research will
contribute to advancements in targeted neuromodulation therapy for auditory communication rehabilitation.
The role of the articulatory motor cortex in speech perception remains a highly debated subject, and the gap in
existing knowledge of auditory speech processing has led to a lack of effective, targeted auditory rehabilitation
interventions for communication disorders. Although the excitability of cortical motor regions during auditory
speech processing has recently been brought to the foreground, delineating the exact role of speech-motor
areas in auditory speech processing remains a major challenge. The proposed project may help establish a
direct causal relationship between the articulatory motor system, its precise underlying biomarker, and
correlated behaviors of auditory speech processing in healthy human subjects. Our specific aims are the
following: (a) To determine representations of speech-sound production vs. perception in motor cortices using
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); (b) To determine the causal role of motor cortex in auditory
speech processing using a transient “virtual lesion” model induced by fMRI-guided navigated TMS (nTMS).
Our proposal will build upon the existing evidence base for cortical targeting of articulatory motor areas of
auditory speech processing, which could subsequently be translated into advancements in auditory
communication rehabilitation approaches. Ultimately, advances in auditory communication rehabilitation
stemming from this project could significantly benefit stroke and/or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
survivors who are affected by auditory-related deficits. The scientific and training plans outlined in this
application pair a patient-oriented research experience with superb mentorship in an outstanding environment
to further Dr. Li's career development. Completion of the proposed project will result in Dr. Li gaining unique
multi-disciplinary expertise in auditory neuroscience, advanced neuroimaging and neuromodulation techniques,
and specialized clinical knowledge in communication disorders, allowing her to successfully compete at the
R01 level.
!

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10436915
- **Project number:** 5K23DC018022-04
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Shasha Li
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $199,292
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10436915

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10436915, Role of Articulatory Motor Areas in Central Processing of Speech Sounds in Human Brain (5K23DC018022-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10436915. Licensed CC0.

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