Memory and language in synchrony: The role of theta oscillations in binding multisensory speech in memory. (360G-Wellcome-210924_Z_18_Z)

£250,000

How does the brain process auditory and visual streams at a time to form multisensory memories of conversations? In real-life, speech is often audiovisual and brain oscillations are entrained in the theta band by tracking the syllabic structure conveyed at ~4Hz in both modalities (i.e. utterance and corresponding lip movements). Additionally, theta activity has been shown to be the most dominant oscillatory activity in the hippocampus and to support episodic memory formation. This proposal addresses multisensory speech and memory processes, which have rarely been studied together within an oscillatory framework. I aim to investigate the causal role of theta synchronisation between dynamic auditory and visual inputs on multisensory episode formation in the hippocampus, as it conveys the fundamental unit for speech perception. In a series of experiments, I will test the behavioural consequences of manipulating the theta phase synchrony between modalities, with a new memory task using natural speech episodes. I will combine this task with state-of-the-art electrophysiological recording techniques, i.e. Magneto-Encephalography (MEG), and single unit recording in the human hippocampus (intracranial Electro-Encephalography in epileptic patients). Lastly, I will implement the results in a recent theta-based speech model to test the effect of sensory input asynchrony on hippocampal networks.

Where is this data from?

This data was originally published by The Wellcome Trust. If you see something about your organisation or the funding it has received on this page that doesn't look right you can submit a grantee amendment request. You can hover over codes from standard codelists to see the user-friendly name provided by 360Giving.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded 250000
Applicant Surname Biau
Approval Committee Basic Science Interview Committee
Award Date 2018-04-24T00:00:00+00:00
Financial Year 2017/18
Grant Programme: Title Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship
Internal ID 210924/Z/18/Z
Lead Applicant Dr Emmanuel Biau
Partnership Value 250000
Planned Dates: End Date 2021-07-04T00:00:00+00:00
Planned Dates: Start Date 2018-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
Recipient Org: Country United Kingdom
Region West Midlands
Sponsor(s) Prof Simon Hanslmayr