Investigation of relation between speech perception and production based on EEG source reconstruction

Mirror neuron system has been investigated using the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique. Activation of the Broca's area and the premotor cortex (PMC), which related with speech production, were observed during speech perception, and seems to be a mirror. However, it is not clear how the mirror neurons function between speech production and perception. This study attempts to investigate the functions of the mirror neurons by utilizing the high temporal resolution of the Electroencephalography (EEG) system. The participants watched Chinese material from screen then heard the material reading from an earphone, finally made a judgement about the consistency of the two stimuli. The high-density EEG signal under source reconstruction revealed that the Wernicke's area activated before the Broca's area and PMC during the speech perception tasks. Results are also consistent with the mirror neuron system: the speech production related regions are working during the speech perception tasks.