SIMONE GASTALDON
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
E-mail: simone.gastaldon@unipd.it
Office: CLA (Building 4), 5th Floor, Room 21
Personal Google Site: https://sites.google.com/view/simone-gastaldon-phd/
Research Areas
- predictive processing in speech comprehension
- speech production
- speech and language in atypical populations (people who stutter, deaf people with cochlear implant)
- electroencephalography
I obtained a master’s degree in Linguistics in 2015 (Unipd) and a PhD in Psychological Sciences in 2021 (Unipd; supervisor: Prof. Francesca Peressotti). Currently, I’m a Research Fellow at the Department of Developmental and Social Psychology (DPSS), University of Padova, Italy. My main research interests lie in predictive processing during auditory language comprehension, its electrophysiological correlates, and how prediction may relate to speech and language production processes and their neural underpinnings.
During my PhD I employed time-frequency and event-related potential analyses of electroencephalographic data to investigate the possible supporting role of language production processes in prediction during comprehension, both in typical and atypical populations (e.g. adults with persistent developmental stuttering). During my postdoc I also studied prediction in audiovisual speech comprehension in deaf people with cochlear implant, who process speech with a suboptimal signal. Currently, I’m conducting a study on normal-hearing people investigating the impact of different adverse listening conditions (spectrally degraded signal vs. superimposed unintelligible speech) on audiovisual prediction.
My collaboration network involves researchers from Padova University Hospital (Padova, Italy), IRCCS San Camillo Hospital (Venice, Italy), BCBL – Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain), CIMeC – Centro Interdipartimentale Mente-Cervello (University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy), the Scuola IMT Alti Studi Lucca (Lucca, Italy), and the University of Trieste (Trieste, Italy).
In 2020-2021 I spent a visiting period at the BCBL – Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain). Here I worked with the Brain Rhythms and Cognition group, under the supervision of Nicola Molinaro (BCBL / Ikerbasque), and focused on speech-brain entrainment in stuttering.
Previously (2016-2017), I worked with the Cognitive Biology of Language group at the University of Barcelona (Spain), under the supervision of Cedric Boeckx (UB / ICREA). Here I contributed to the group’s line of investigation on self-domestication in the evolution of Homo Sapiens.
Selected Publications
2025
Gastaldon, Simone; Calignano, Giulia
Linguistic alignment with an artificial agent: A commentary and re-analysis Journal Article
In: Cognition, vol. 259, pp. 106099, 2025.
@article{Gastaldon2025,
title = {Linguistic alignment with an artificial agent: A commentary and re-analysis},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Giulia Calignano},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2025.106099},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-02-28},
urldate = {2025-02-28},
journal = {Cognition},
volume = {259},
pages = {106099},
abstract = {In this manuscript we provide a commentary and a complementary analysis of Cirillo et al.'s (2022) study on conceptual alignment in a joint picture naming task involving a social robot (Cognition, 227, 105,213). In their study, Cirillo and collaborators present evidence suggesting automatic alignment by examining response proportions, reflecting adaptation to the lexical choices made by the artificial agent (i.e., providing category names instead of basic names for specific semantic categories). Here, we conducted a complementary analysis using the openly available dataset, employing a multiverse approach and focusing on response times as a more nuanced measure of cognitive processing and automaticity. Our findings indicate that alignment in the Category condition (i.e., when the robot provided a superordinate label) is associated with longer response times and greater variability. When providing the basic label in the Basic condition, RTs are much shorter and variability is reduced, compatible with the Basic-level advantage phenomenon. Non-alignment to each condition completely reverses the pattern. This suggests that aligning when producing a superordinate label is a strategic and effortful rather than an automatic response mechanism. Furthermore, through comprehensive visual exploration of response proportions across potentially influential variables, we observed category naming alignment primarily emerging in specific semantic categories, and mostly for stimuli with basic labels at low lexical frequency and newly designed pictures not taken from the MultiPic database, thus suggesting a limited generalizability of the effect. These insights were confirmed using leave-one-out robustness checks. In conclusion, our contribution provides complementary evidence in support of strategic rather than automatic responses when aligning with Category labels in the analyzed dataset, with a limited generalizability despite all the balancing procedures the authors carefully implemented in the experimental material. This is likely to reflect individual task strategies rather than genuine alignment. Lastly, we suggest directions for future research on linguistic alignment, building on insights from both Cirillo et al.'s study and our commentary. We also briefly discuss the Open Science principles that shaped our approach to this work.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In this manuscript we provide a commentary and a complementary analysis of Cirillo et al.'s (2022) study on conceptual alignment in a joint picture naming task involving a social robot (Cognition, 227, 105,213). In their study, Cirillo and collaborators present evidence suggesting automatic alignment by examining response proportions, reflecting adaptation to the lexical choices made by the artificial agent (i.e., providing category names instead of basic names for specific semantic categories). Here, we conducted a complementary analysis using the openly available dataset, employing a multiverse approach and focusing on response times as a more nuanced measure of cognitive processing and automaticity. Our findings indicate that alignment in the Category condition (i.e., when the robot provided a superordinate label) is associated with longer response times and greater variability. When providing the basic label in the Basic condition, RTs are much shorter and variability is reduced, compatible with the Basic-level advantage phenomenon. Non-alignment to each condition completely reverses the pattern. This suggests that aligning when producing a superordinate label is a strategic and effortful rather than an automatic response mechanism. Furthermore, through comprehensive visual exploration of response proportions across potentially influential variables, we observed category naming alignment primarily emerging in specific semantic categories, and mostly for stimuli with basic labels at low lexical frequency and newly designed pictures not taken from the MultiPic database, thus suggesting a limited generalizability of the effect. These insights were confirmed using leave-one-out robustness checks. In conclusion, our contribution provides complementary evidence in support of strategic rather than automatic responses when aligning with Category labels in the analyzed dataset, with a limited generalizability despite all the balancing procedures the authors carefully implemented in the experimental material. This is likely to reflect individual task strategies rather than genuine alignment. Lastly, we suggest directions for future research on linguistic alignment, building on insights from both Cirillo et al.'s study and our commentary. We also briefly discuss the Open Science principles that shaped our approach to this work.
2024
Gastaldon, Simone; Busan, Pierpaolo; Molinaro, Nicola; Lizarazu, Mikel
Cortical tracking of speech is reduced in adults who stutter when listening for speaking Journal Article
In: Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, vol. 67, iss. 11, pp. 4339–4357, 2024.
@article{Gastaldon2024,
title = {Cortical tracking of speech is reduced in adults who stutter when listening for speaking},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Pierpaolo Busan and Nicola Molinaro and Mikel Lizarazu},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_JSLHR-24-00227},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-11-07},
urldate = {2024-11-07},
journal = {Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research},
volume = {67},
issue = {11},
pages = {4339–4357},
abstract = {Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to investigate cortical tracking of speech (CTS) in adults who stutter (AWS) compared to typically fluent adults (TFAs) to test the involvement of the speech-motor network in tracking rhythmic speech information.
Method:
Participants' electroencephalogram was recorded while they simply listened to sentences (listening only) or completed them by naming a picture (listening for speaking), thus manipulating the upcoming involvement of speech production. We analyzed speech–brain coherence and brain connectivity during listening.
Results:
During the listening-for-speaking task, AWS exhibited reduced CTS in the 3- to 5-Hz range (theta), corresponding to the syllabic rhythm. The effect was localized in the left inferior parietal and right pre/supplementary motor regions. Connectivity analyses revealed that TFAs had stronger information transfer in the theta range in both tasks in fronto-temporo-parietal regions. When considering the whole sample of participants, increased connectivity from the right superior temporal cortex to the left sensorimotor cortex was correlated with faster naming times in the listening-for-speaking task.
Conclusions:
Atypical speech-motor functioning in stuttering impacts speech perception, especially in situations requiring articulatory alertness. The involvement of frontal and (pre)motor regions in CTS in TFAs is highlighted. Further investigation is needed into speech perception in individuals with speech-motor deficits, especially when smooth transitioning between listening and speaking is required, such as in real-life conversational settings.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to investigate cortical tracking of speech (CTS) in adults who stutter (AWS) compared to typically fluent adults (TFAs) to test the involvement of the speech-motor network in tracking rhythmic speech information.
Method:
Participants' electroencephalogram was recorded while they simply listened to sentences (listening only) or completed them by naming a picture (listening for speaking), thus manipulating the upcoming involvement of speech production. We analyzed speech–brain coherence and brain connectivity during listening.
Results:
During the listening-for-speaking task, AWS exhibited reduced CTS in the 3- to 5-Hz range (theta), corresponding to the syllabic rhythm. The effect was localized in the left inferior parietal and right pre/supplementary motor regions. Connectivity analyses revealed that TFAs had stronger information transfer in the theta range in both tasks in fronto-temporo-parietal regions. When considering the whole sample of participants, increased connectivity from the right superior temporal cortex to the left sensorimotor cortex was correlated with faster naming times in the listening-for-speaking task.
Conclusions:
Atypical speech-motor functioning in stuttering impacts speech perception, especially in situations requiring articulatory alertness. The involvement of frontal and (pre)motor regions in CTS in TFAs is highlighted. Further investigation is needed into speech perception in individuals with speech-motor deficits, especially when smooth transitioning between listening and speaking is required, such as in real-life conversational settings.
The purpose of this study was to investigate cortical tracking of speech (CTS) in adults who stutter (AWS) compared to typically fluent adults (TFAs) to test the involvement of the speech-motor network in tracking rhythmic speech information.
Method:
Participants' electroencephalogram was recorded while they simply listened to sentences (listening only) or completed them by naming a picture (listening for speaking), thus manipulating the upcoming involvement of speech production. We analyzed speech–brain coherence and brain connectivity during listening.
Results:
During the listening-for-speaking task, AWS exhibited reduced CTS in the 3- to 5-Hz range (theta), corresponding to the syllabic rhythm. The effect was localized in the left inferior parietal and right pre/supplementary motor regions. Connectivity analyses revealed that TFAs had stronger information transfer in the theta range in both tasks in fronto-temporo-parietal regions. When considering the whole sample of participants, increased connectivity from the right superior temporal cortex to the left sensorimotor cortex was correlated with faster naming times in the listening-for-speaking task.
Conclusions:
Atypical speech-motor functioning in stuttering impacts speech perception, especially in situations requiring articulatory alertness. The involvement of frontal and (pre)motor regions in CTS in TFAs is highlighted. Further investigation is needed into speech perception in individuals with speech-motor deficits, especially when smooth transitioning between listening and speaking is required, such as in real-life conversational settings.
Gastaldon, Simone; Bonfiglio, Noemi; Vespignani, Francesco; Peressotti, Francesca
Predictive language processing: integrating comprehension and production, and what atypical populations can tell us Journal Article
In: Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 15, pp. 1369177, 2024.
@article{Gastaldon2024c,
title = {Predictive language processing: integrating comprehension and production, and what atypical populations can tell us},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Noemi Bonfiglio and Francesco Vespignani and Francesca Peressotti},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1369177},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-05-21},
urldate = {2024-05-21},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychology},
volume = {15},
pages = {1369177},
publisher = {Frontiers Media SA},
abstract = {Predictive processing, a crucial aspect of human cognition, is also relevant for language comprehension. In everyday situations, we exploit various sources of information to anticipate and therefore facilitate processing of upcoming linguistic input. In the literature, there are a variety of models that aim at accounting for such ability. One group of models propose a strict relationship between prediction and language production mechanisms. In this review, we first introduce very briefly the concept of predictive processing during language comprehension. Secondly, we focus on models that attribute a prominent role to language production and sensorimotor processing in language prediction (“prediction-by-production” models). Contextually, we provide a summary of studies that investigated the role of speech production and auditory perception on language comprehension/prediction tasks in healthy, typical participants. Then, we provide an overview of the limited existing literature on specific atypical/clinical populations that may represent suitable testing ground for such models–i.e., populations with impaired speech production and auditory perception mechanisms. Ultimately, we suggest a more widely and in-depth testing of prediction-by-production accounts, and the involvement of atypical populations both for model testing and as targets for possible novel speech/language treatment approaches.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Predictive processing, a crucial aspect of human cognition, is also relevant for language comprehension. In everyday situations, we exploit various sources of information to anticipate and therefore facilitate processing of upcoming linguistic input. In the literature, there are a variety of models that aim at accounting for such ability. One group of models propose a strict relationship between prediction and language production mechanisms. In this review, we first introduce very briefly the concept of predictive processing during language comprehension. Secondly, we focus on models that attribute a prominent role to language production and sensorimotor processing in language prediction (“prediction-by-production” models). Contextually, we provide a summary of studies that investigated the role of speech production and auditory perception on language comprehension/prediction tasks in healthy, typical participants. Then, we provide an overview of the limited existing literature on specific atypical/clinical populations that may represent suitable testing ground for such models–i.e., populations with impaired speech production and auditory perception mechanisms. Ultimately, we suggest a more widely and in-depth testing of prediction-by-production accounts, and the involvement of atypical populations both for model testing and as targets for possible novel speech/language treatment approaches.
2023
Gastaldon, S.; Busan, P.; Arcara, G.; Peressotti, F.
Inefficient speech-motor control affects predictive speech comprehension: atypical electrophysiological correlates in stuttering Journal Article
In: Cerebral Cortex, 2023.
@article{Gastaldon2023,
title = {Inefficient speech-motor control affects predictive speech comprehension: atypical electrophysiological correlates in stuttering},
author = {S. Gastaldon and P. Busan and G. Arcara and F. Peressotti},
url = {10.1093/cercor/bhad004},
doi = {10.1093/cercor/bhad004},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-21},
urldate = {2023-01-21},
journal = {Cerebral Cortex},
abstract = {Listeners predict upcoming information during language comprehension. However, how this ability is implemented is still largely unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis proposing that language production mechanisms have a role in prediction. We studied 2 electroencephalographic correlates of predictability during speech comprehension—pre-target alpha–beta (8–30 Hz) power decrease and the post-target N400 event-related potential effect—in a population with impaired speech-motor control, i.e. adults who stutter (AWS), compared to typically fluent adults (TFA). Participants listened to sentences that could either constrain towards a target word or not, modulating its predictability. As a complementary task, participants also performed context-driven word production. Compared to TFA, AWS not only displayed atypical neural responses in production, but, critically, they showed a different pattern also in comprehension. Specifically, while TFA showed the expected pre-target power decrease, AWS showed a power increase in frontal regions, associated with speech-motor control. In addition, the post-target N400 effect was reduced for AWS with respect to TFA. Finally, we found that production and comprehension power changes were positively correlated in TFA, but not in AWS. Overall, the results support the idea that processes and neural structures prominently devoted to speech planning also support prediction during speech comprehension.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Listeners predict upcoming information during language comprehension. However, how this ability is implemented is still largely unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis proposing that language production mechanisms have a role in prediction. We studied 2 electroencephalographic correlates of predictability during speech comprehension—pre-target alpha–beta (8–30 Hz) power decrease and the post-target N400 event-related potential effect—in a population with impaired speech-motor control, i.e. adults who stutter (AWS), compared to typically fluent adults (TFA). Participants listened to sentences that could either constrain towards a target word or not, modulating its predictability. As a complementary task, participants also performed context-driven word production. Compared to TFA, AWS not only displayed atypical neural responses in production, but, critically, they showed a different pattern also in comprehension. Specifically, while TFA showed the expected pre-target power decrease, AWS showed a power increase in frontal regions, associated with speech-motor control. In addition, the post-target N400 effect was reduced for AWS with respect to TFA. Finally, we found that production and comprehension power changes were positively correlated in TFA, but not in AWS. Overall, the results support the idea that processes and neural structures prominently devoted to speech planning also support prediction during speech comprehension.
2020
Gastaldon, Simone; Arcara, Giorgio; Navarrete, Eduardo; Peressotti, Francesca
Commonalities in alpha and beta neural desynchronizations during prediction in language comprehension and production Journal Article
In: Cortex, vol. 131, pp. 328-345, 2020, ISSN: 00109452.
@article{Gastaldon2020,
title = {Commonalities in alpha and beta neural desynchronizations during prediction in language comprehension and production},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Giorgio Arcara and Eduardo Navarrete and Francesca Peressotti},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010945220303701
http://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gastaldon_et_al_2020_Cortex.pdf},
doi = {10.1016/j.cortex.2020.09.026},
issn = {00109452},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-10-13},
urldate = {2020-10-13},
journal = {Cortex},
volume = {131},
pages = {328-345},
publisher = {Elsevier},
abstract = {We recorded EEG from participants performing both a comprehension and a production task in two separate blocks. Participants listened to high and low constraint incomplete sentences and were asked either to name a picture to complete it (production) or to simply listen to the final word (comprehension). We found that in a silent gap before the final stimulus, predictable stimuli elicited alpha and beta desynchronization in both tasks, signaling the pre-activation of linguistic information. Source estimation highlighted the involvement of left-lateralized language areas and temporo-parietal areas in the right hemisphere. Furthermore, correlations between the desynchronizations in comprehension and production showed spatiotemporal commonalities in language- relevant areas of the left hemisphere. As proposed by prediction-by-production models, our results suggest that comprehenders engage the production system while predicting upcoming words.
Keywords: language prediction, language production, alpha–beta oscillations, internal model},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
We recorded EEG from participants performing both a comprehension and a production task in two separate blocks. Participants listened to high and low constraint incomplete sentences and were asked either to name a picture to complete it (production) or to simply listen to the final word (comprehension). We found that in a silent gap before the final stimulus, predictable stimuli elicited alpha and beta desynchronization in both tasks, signaling the pre-activation of linguistic information. Source estimation highlighted the involvement of left-lateralized language areas and temporo-parietal areas in the right hemisphere. Furthermore, correlations between the desynchronizations in comprehension and production showed spatiotemporal commonalities in language- relevant areas of the left hemisphere. As proposed by prediction-by-production models, our results suggest that comprehenders engage the production system while predicting upcoming words.
Keywords: language prediction, language production, alpha–beta oscillations, internal model
Keywords: language prediction, language production, alpha–beta oscillations, internal model
Publications
2025
Gastaldon, Simone; Calignano, Giulia
Linguistic alignment with an artificial agent: A commentary and re-analysis Journal Article
In: Cognition, vol. 259, pp. 106099, 2025.
@article{Gastaldon2025,
title = {Linguistic alignment with an artificial agent: A commentary and re-analysis},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Giulia Calignano},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2025.106099},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-02-28},
urldate = {2025-02-28},
journal = {Cognition},
volume = {259},
pages = {106099},
abstract = {In this manuscript we provide a commentary and a complementary analysis of Cirillo et al.'s (2022) study on conceptual alignment in a joint picture naming task involving a social robot (Cognition, 227, 105,213). In their study, Cirillo and collaborators present evidence suggesting automatic alignment by examining response proportions, reflecting adaptation to the lexical choices made by the artificial agent (i.e., providing category names instead of basic names for specific semantic categories). Here, we conducted a complementary analysis using the openly available dataset, employing a multiverse approach and focusing on response times as a more nuanced measure of cognitive processing and automaticity. Our findings indicate that alignment in the Category condition (i.e., when the robot provided a superordinate label) is associated with longer response times and greater variability. When providing the basic label in the Basic condition, RTs are much shorter and variability is reduced, compatible with the Basic-level advantage phenomenon. Non-alignment to each condition completely reverses the pattern. This suggests that aligning when producing a superordinate label is a strategic and effortful rather than an automatic response mechanism. Furthermore, through comprehensive visual exploration of response proportions across potentially influential variables, we observed category naming alignment primarily emerging in specific semantic categories, and mostly for stimuli with basic labels at low lexical frequency and newly designed pictures not taken from the MultiPic database, thus suggesting a limited generalizability of the effect. These insights were confirmed using leave-one-out robustness checks. In conclusion, our contribution provides complementary evidence in support of strategic rather than automatic responses when aligning with Category labels in the analyzed dataset, with a limited generalizability despite all the balancing procedures the authors carefully implemented in the experimental material. This is likely to reflect individual task strategies rather than genuine alignment. Lastly, we suggest directions for future research on linguistic alignment, building on insights from both Cirillo et al.'s study and our commentary. We also briefly discuss the Open Science principles that shaped our approach to this work.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In this manuscript we provide a commentary and a complementary analysis of Cirillo et al.'s (2022) study on conceptual alignment in a joint picture naming task involving a social robot (Cognition, 227, 105,213). In their study, Cirillo and collaborators present evidence suggesting automatic alignment by examining response proportions, reflecting adaptation to the lexical choices made by the artificial agent (i.e., providing category names instead of basic names for specific semantic categories). Here, we conducted a complementary analysis using the openly available dataset, employing a multiverse approach and focusing on response times as a more nuanced measure of cognitive processing and automaticity. Our findings indicate that alignment in the Category condition (i.e., when the robot provided a superordinate label) is associated with longer response times and greater variability. When providing the basic label in the Basic condition, RTs are much shorter and variability is reduced, compatible with the Basic-level advantage phenomenon. Non-alignment to each condition completely reverses the pattern. This suggests that aligning when producing a superordinate label is a strategic and effortful rather than an automatic response mechanism. Furthermore, through comprehensive visual exploration of response proportions across potentially influential variables, we observed category naming alignment primarily emerging in specific semantic categories, and mostly for stimuli with basic labels at low lexical frequency and newly designed pictures not taken from the MultiPic database, thus suggesting a limited generalizability of the effect. These insights were confirmed using leave-one-out robustness checks. In conclusion, our contribution provides complementary evidence in support of strategic rather than automatic responses when aligning with Category labels in the analyzed dataset, with a limited generalizability despite all the balancing procedures the authors carefully implemented in the experimental material. This is likely to reflect individual task strategies rather than genuine alignment. Lastly, we suggest directions for future research on linguistic alignment, building on insights from both Cirillo et al.'s study and our commentary. We also briefly discuss the Open Science principles that shaped our approach to this work.
2024
Gastaldon, Simone; Busan, Pierpaolo; Molinaro, Nicola; Lizarazu, Mikel
Cortical tracking of speech is reduced in adults who stutter when listening for speaking Journal Article
In: Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, vol. 67, iss. 11, pp. 4339–4357, 2024.
@article{Gastaldon2024,
title = {Cortical tracking of speech is reduced in adults who stutter when listening for speaking},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Pierpaolo Busan and Nicola Molinaro and Mikel Lizarazu},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_JSLHR-24-00227},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-11-07},
urldate = {2024-11-07},
journal = {Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research},
volume = {67},
issue = {11},
pages = {4339–4357},
abstract = {Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to investigate cortical tracking of speech (CTS) in adults who stutter (AWS) compared to typically fluent adults (TFAs) to test the involvement of the speech-motor network in tracking rhythmic speech information.
Method:
Participants' electroencephalogram was recorded while they simply listened to sentences (listening only) or completed them by naming a picture (listening for speaking), thus manipulating the upcoming involvement of speech production. We analyzed speech–brain coherence and brain connectivity during listening.
Results:
During the listening-for-speaking task, AWS exhibited reduced CTS in the 3- to 5-Hz range (theta), corresponding to the syllabic rhythm. The effect was localized in the left inferior parietal and right pre/supplementary motor regions. Connectivity analyses revealed that TFAs had stronger information transfer in the theta range in both tasks in fronto-temporo-parietal regions. When considering the whole sample of participants, increased connectivity from the right superior temporal cortex to the left sensorimotor cortex was correlated with faster naming times in the listening-for-speaking task.
Conclusions:
Atypical speech-motor functioning in stuttering impacts speech perception, especially in situations requiring articulatory alertness. The involvement of frontal and (pre)motor regions in CTS in TFAs is highlighted. Further investigation is needed into speech perception in individuals with speech-motor deficits, especially when smooth transitioning between listening and speaking is required, such as in real-life conversational settings.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to investigate cortical tracking of speech (CTS) in adults who stutter (AWS) compared to typically fluent adults (TFAs) to test the involvement of the speech-motor network in tracking rhythmic speech information.
Method:
Participants' electroencephalogram was recorded while they simply listened to sentences (listening only) or completed them by naming a picture (listening for speaking), thus manipulating the upcoming involvement of speech production. We analyzed speech–brain coherence and brain connectivity during listening.
Results:
During the listening-for-speaking task, AWS exhibited reduced CTS in the 3- to 5-Hz range (theta), corresponding to the syllabic rhythm. The effect was localized in the left inferior parietal and right pre/supplementary motor regions. Connectivity analyses revealed that TFAs had stronger information transfer in the theta range in both tasks in fronto-temporo-parietal regions. When considering the whole sample of participants, increased connectivity from the right superior temporal cortex to the left sensorimotor cortex was correlated with faster naming times in the listening-for-speaking task.
Conclusions:
Atypical speech-motor functioning in stuttering impacts speech perception, especially in situations requiring articulatory alertness. The involvement of frontal and (pre)motor regions in CTS in TFAs is highlighted. Further investigation is needed into speech perception in individuals with speech-motor deficits, especially when smooth transitioning between listening and speaking is required, such as in real-life conversational settings.
The purpose of this study was to investigate cortical tracking of speech (CTS) in adults who stutter (AWS) compared to typically fluent adults (TFAs) to test the involvement of the speech-motor network in tracking rhythmic speech information.
Method:
Participants' electroencephalogram was recorded while they simply listened to sentences (listening only) or completed them by naming a picture (listening for speaking), thus manipulating the upcoming involvement of speech production. We analyzed speech–brain coherence and brain connectivity during listening.
Results:
During the listening-for-speaking task, AWS exhibited reduced CTS in the 3- to 5-Hz range (theta), corresponding to the syllabic rhythm. The effect was localized in the left inferior parietal and right pre/supplementary motor regions. Connectivity analyses revealed that TFAs had stronger information transfer in the theta range in both tasks in fronto-temporo-parietal regions. When considering the whole sample of participants, increased connectivity from the right superior temporal cortex to the left sensorimotor cortex was correlated with faster naming times in the listening-for-speaking task.
Conclusions:
Atypical speech-motor functioning in stuttering impacts speech perception, especially in situations requiring articulatory alertness. The involvement of frontal and (pre)motor regions in CTS in TFAs is highlighted. Further investigation is needed into speech perception in individuals with speech-motor deficits, especially when smooth transitioning between listening and speaking is required, such as in real-life conversational settings.
Costa, Cristiano; Pezzetta, Rachele; Masina, Fabio; Lago, Sara; Gastaldon, Simone; Frangi, Camilla; Genon, Sarah; Arcara, Giorgio; Scarpazza, Cristina
Comprehensive Investigation of Predictive Processing: A Cross- and Within-Cognitive Domains fMRI Meta-Analytic Approach Journal Article
In: Human Brain Mapping, vol. 45, iss. 12, pp. e26817, 2024.
@article{Costa2024,
title = {Comprehensive Investigation of Predictive Processing: A Cross- and Within-Cognitive Domains fMRI Meta-Analytic Approach},
author = {Cristiano Costa and Rachele Pezzetta and Fabio Masina and Sara Lago and Simone Gastaldon and Camilla Frangi and Sarah Genon and Giorgio Arcara and Cristina Scarpazza},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.26817},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-08-21},
urldate = {2024-08-21},
journal = {Human Brain Mapping},
volume = {45},
issue = {12},
pages = {e26817},
abstract = {Predictive processing (PP) stands as a predominant theoretical framework in neuroscience. While some efforts have been made to frame PP within a cognitive domain-general network perspective, suggesting the existence of a “prediction network,” these studies have primarily focused on specific cognitive domains or functions. The question of whether a domain-general predictive network that encompasses all well-established cognitive domains exists remains unanswered. The present meta-analysis aims to address this gap by testing the hypothesis that PP relies on a large-scale network spanning across cognitive domains, supporting PP as a unified account toward a more integrated approach to neuroscience. The Activation Likelihood Estimation meta-analytic approach was employed, along with Meta-Analytic Connectivity Mapping, conjunction analysis, and behavioral decoding techniques. The analyses focused on prediction incongruency and prediction congruency, two conditions likely reflective of core phenomena of PP. Additionally, the analysis focused on a prediction phenomena-independent dimension, regardless of prediction incongruency and congruency. These analyses were first applied to each cognitive domain considered (cognitive control, attention, motor, language, social cognition). Then, all cognitive domains were collapsed into a single, cross-domain dimension, encompassing a total of 252 experiments. Results pertaining to prediction incongruency rely on a defined network across cognitive domains, while prediction congruency results exhibited less overall activation and slightly more variability across cognitive domains. The converging patterns of activation across prediction phenomena and cognitive domains highlight the role of several brain hubs unfolding within an organized large-scale network (Dynamic Prediction Network), mainly encompassing bilateral insula, frontal gyri, claustrum, parietal lobules, and temporal gyri. Additionally, the crucial role played at a cross-domain, multimodal level by the anterior insula, as evidenced by the conjunction and Meta-Analytic Connectivity Mapping analyses, places it as the major hub of the Dynamic Prediction Network. Results support the hypothesis that PP relies on a domain-general, large-scale network within whose regions PP units are likely to operate, depending on the context and environmental demands. The wide array of regions within the Dynamic Prediction Network seamlessly integrate context- and stimulus-dependent predictive computations, thereby contributing to the adaptive updating of the brain's models of the inner and external world.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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}
Predictive processing (PP) stands as a predominant theoretical framework in neuroscience. While some efforts have been made to frame PP within a cognitive domain-general network perspective, suggesting the existence of a “prediction network,” these studies have primarily focused on specific cognitive domains or functions. The question of whether a domain-general predictive network that encompasses all well-established cognitive domains exists remains unanswered. The present meta-analysis aims to address this gap by testing the hypothesis that PP relies on a large-scale network spanning across cognitive domains, supporting PP as a unified account toward a more integrated approach to neuroscience. The Activation Likelihood Estimation meta-analytic approach was employed, along with Meta-Analytic Connectivity Mapping, conjunction analysis, and behavioral decoding techniques. The analyses focused on prediction incongruency and prediction congruency, two conditions likely reflective of core phenomena of PP. Additionally, the analysis focused on a prediction phenomena-independent dimension, regardless of prediction incongruency and congruency. These analyses were first applied to each cognitive domain considered (cognitive control, attention, motor, language, social cognition). Then, all cognitive domains were collapsed into a single, cross-domain dimension, encompassing a total of 252 experiments. Results pertaining to prediction incongruency rely on a defined network across cognitive domains, while prediction congruency results exhibited less overall activation and slightly more variability across cognitive domains. The converging patterns of activation across prediction phenomena and cognitive domains highlight the role of several brain hubs unfolding within an organized large-scale network (Dynamic Prediction Network), mainly encompassing bilateral insula, frontal gyri, claustrum, parietal lobules, and temporal gyri. Additionally, the crucial role played at a cross-domain, multimodal level by the anterior insula, as evidenced by the conjunction and Meta-Analytic Connectivity Mapping analyses, places it as the major hub of the Dynamic Prediction Network. Results support the hypothesis that PP relies on a domain-general, large-scale network within whose regions PP units are likely to operate, depending on the context and environmental demands. The wide array of regions within the Dynamic Prediction Network seamlessly integrate context- and stimulus-dependent predictive computations, thereby contributing to the adaptive updating of the brain's models of the inner and external world.
Gastaldon, Simone; Bonfiglio, Noemi; Vespignani, Francesco; Peressotti, Francesca
Predictive language processing: integrating comprehension and production, and what atypical populations can tell us Journal Article
In: Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 15, pp. 1369177, 2024.
@article{Gastaldon2024c,
title = {Predictive language processing: integrating comprehension and production, and what atypical populations can tell us},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Noemi Bonfiglio and Francesco Vespignani and Francesca Peressotti},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1369177},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-05-21},
urldate = {2024-05-21},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychology},
volume = {15},
pages = {1369177},
publisher = {Frontiers Media SA},
abstract = {Predictive processing, a crucial aspect of human cognition, is also relevant for language comprehension. In everyday situations, we exploit various sources of information to anticipate and therefore facilitate processing of upcoming linguistic input. In the literature, there are a variety of models that aim at accounting for such ability. One group of models propose a strict relationship between prediction and language production mechanisms. In this review, we first introduce very briefly the concept of predictive processing during language comprehension. Secondly, we focus on models that attribute a prominent role to language production and sensorimotor processing in language prediction (“prediction-by-production” models). Contextually, we provide a summary of studies that investigated the role of speech production and auditory perception on language comprehension/prediction tasks in healthy, typical participants. Then, we provide an overview of the limited existing literature on specific atypical/clinical populations that may represent suitable testing ground for such models–i.e., populations with impaired speech production and auditory perception mechanisms. Ultimately, we suggest a more widely and in-depth testing of prediction-by-production accounts, and the involvement of atypical populations both for model testing and as targets for possible novel speech/language treatment approaches.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Predictive processing, a crucial aspect of human cognition, is also relevant for language comprehension. In everyday situations, we exploit various sources of information to anticipate and therefore facilitate processing of upcoming linguistic input. In the literature, there are a variety of models that aim at accounting for such ability. One group of models propose a strict relationship between prediction and language production mechanisms. In this review, we first introduce very briefly the concept of predictive processing during language comprehension. Secondly, we focus on models that attribute a prominent role to language production and sensorimotor processing in language prediction (“prediction-by-production” models). Contextually, we provide a summary of studies that investigated the role of speech production and auditory perception on language comprehension/prediction tasks in healthy, typical participants. Then, we provide an overview of the limited existing literature on specific atypical/clinical populations that may represent suitable testing ground for such models–i.e., populations with impaired speech production and auditory perception mechanisms. Ultimately, we suggest a more widely and in-depth testing of prediction-by-production accounts, and the involvement of atypical populations both for model testing and as targets for possible novel speech/language treatment approaches.
2023
Gastaldon, S.; Busan, P.; Arcara, G.; Peressotti, F.
Inefficient speech-motor control affects predictive speech comprehension: atypical electrophysiological correlates in stuttering Journal Article
In: Cerebral Cortex, 2023.
@article{Gastaldon2023,
title = {Inefficient speech-motor control affects predictive speech comprehension: atypical electrophysiological correlates in stuttering},
author = {S. Gastaldon and P. Busan and G. Arcara and F. Peressotti},
url = {10.1093/cercor/bhad004},
doi = {10.1093/cercor/bhad004},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-21},
urldate = {2023-01-21},
journal = {Cerebral Cortex},
abstract = {Listeners predict upcoming information during language comprehension. However, how this ability is implemented is still largely unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis proposing that language production mechanisms have a role in prediction. We studied 2 electroencephalographic correlates of predictability during speech comprehension—pre-target alpha–beta (8–30 Hz) power decrease and the post-target N400 event-related potential effect—in a population with impaired speech-motor control, i.e. adults who stutter (AWS), compared to typically fluent adults (TFA). Participants listened to sentences that could either constrain towards a target word or not, modulating its predictability. As a complementary task, participants also performed context-driven word production. Compared to TFA, AWS not only displayed atypical neural responses in production, but, critically, they showed a different pattern also in comprehension. Specifically, while TFA showed the expected pre-target power decrease, AWS showed a power increase in frontal regions, associated with speech-motor control. In addition, the post-target N400 effect was reduced for AWS with respect to TFA. Finally, we found that production and comprehension power changes were positively correlated in TFA, but not in AWS. Overall, the results support the idea that processes and neural structures prominently devoted to speech planning also support prediction during speech comprehension.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Listeners predict upcoming information during language comprehension. However, how this ability is implemented is still largely unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis proposing that language production mechanisms have a role in prediction. We studied 2 electroencephalographic correlates of predictability during speech comprehension—pre-target alpha–beta (8–30 Hz) power decrease and the post-target N400 event-related potential effect—in a population with impaired speech-motor control, i.e. adults who stutter (AWS), compared to typically fluent adults (TFA). Participants listened to sentences that could either constrain towards a target word or not, modulating its predictability. As a complementary task, participants also performed context-driven word production. Compared to TFA, AWS not only displayed atypical neural responses in production, but, critically, they showed a different pattern also in comprehension. Specifically, while TFA showed the expected pre-target power decrease, AWS showed a power increase in frontal regions, associated with speech-motor control. In addition, the post-target N400 effect was reduced for AWS with respect to TFA. Finally, we found that production and comprehension power changes were positively correlated in TFA, but not in AWS. Overall, the results support the idea that processes and neural structures prominently devoted to speech planning also support prediction during speech comprehension.
Lago, Sara; Pezzetta, Rachele; Gastaldon, Simone; Peressotti, Francesca; Arcara, Giorgio
Trial-by-trial fluctuations of pre-stimulus alpha power predict language ERPs Journal Article
In: Psychophysiology, vol. 60, no. 12, pp. e14388, 2023.
@article{lago2023trial,
title = {Trial-by-trial fluctuations of pre-stimulus alpha power predict language ERPs},
author = {Sara Lago and Rachele Pezzetta and Simone Gastaldon and Francesca Peressotti and Giorgio Arcara},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
urldate = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Psychophysiology},
volume = {60},
number = {12},
pages = {e14388},
publisher = {Wiley Online Library},
keywords = {},
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2021
Gastaldon, Simone; Busan, Pierpaolo; Arcara, Giorgio; Peressotti, Francesca
In: bioRxiv, pp. 2021.10.28.466231, 2021.
@article{Gastaldon2021,
title = {When inefficient speech-motor control affects speech comprehension: atypical electrophysiological correlates of language prediction in stuttering},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Pierpaolo Busan and Giorgio Arcara and Francesca Peressotti},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.10.28.466231v1.full.pdf},
doi = {10.1101/2021.10.28.466231},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-10-28},
urldate = {2021-10-28},
journal = {bioRxiv},
pages = {2021.10.28.466231},
abstract = {It is well attested that people predict forthcoming information during language comprehension. The literature presents different proposals on how this ability could be implemented. Here, we tested the hypothesis according to which language production mechanisms have a role in such predictive processing. To this aim, we studied two electroencephalographic correlates of predictability during speech comprehension ‒ pre-target alpha‒beta (8-30 Hz) power decrease and the post-target N400 event-related potential (ERP) effect, ‒ in a population with impaired speech-motor control, i.e., adults who stutter (AWS), compared to typically fluent adults (TFA). Participants listened to sentences that could either constrain towards a target word or not, allowing or not to make predictions. We analyzed time-frequency modulations in a silent interval preceding the target and ERPs at the presentation of the target. Results showed that, compared to TFA, AWS display: i) a widespread and bilateral reduced power decrease in posterior temporal and parietal regions, and a power increase in anterior regions, especially in the left hemisphere (high vs. low constraining) and ii) a reduced N400 effect (non-predictable vs. predictable). The results suggest a reduced efficiency in generating predictions in AWS with respect to TFA. Additionally, the magnitude of the N400 effect in AWS is correlated with alpha power change in the right pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex, a key node in the dysfunctional network in stuttering. Overall, the results support the idea that processes and neural structures prominently devoted to speech planning and execution support prediction during language comprehension.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
It is well attested that people predict forthcoming information during language comprehension. The literature presents different proposals on how this ability could be implemented. Here, we tested the hypothesis according to which language production mechanisms have a role in such predictive processing. To this aim, we studied two electroencephalographic correlates of predictability during speech comprehension ‒ pre-target alpha‒beta (8-30 Hz) power decrease and the post-target N400 event-related potential (ERP) effect, ‒ in a population with impaired speech-motor control, i.e., adults who stutter (AWS), compared to typically fluent adults (TFA). Participants listened to sentences that could either constrain towards a target word or not, allowing or not to make predictions. We analyzed time-frequency modulations in a silent interval preceding the target and ERPs at the presentation of the target. Results showed that, compared to TFA, AWS display: i) a widespread and bilateral reduced power decrease in posterior temporal and parietal regions, and a power increase in anterior regions, especially in the left hemisphere (high vs. low constraining) and ii) a reduced N400 effect (non-predictable vs. predictable). The results suggest a reduced efficiency in generating predictions in AWS with respect to TFA. Additionally, the magnitude of the N400 effect in AWS is correlated with alpha power change in the right pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex, a key node in the dysfunctional network in stuttering. Overall, the results support the idea that processes and neural structures prominently devoted to speech planning and execution support prediction during language comprehension.
2020
Gastaldon, Simone; Arcara, Giorgio; Navarrete, Eduardo; Peressotti, Francesca
Commonalities in alpha and beta neural desynchronizations during prediction in language comprehension and production Journal Article
In: Cortex, vol. 131, pp. 328-345, 2020, ISSN: 00109452.
@article{Gastaldon2020,
title = {Commonalities in alpha and beta neural desynchronizations during prediction in language comprehension and production},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Giorgio Arcara and Eduardo Navarrete and Francesca Peressotti},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010945220303701
http://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gastaldon_et_al_2020_Cortex.pdf},
doi = {10.1016/j.cortex.2020.09.026},
issn = {00109452},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-10-13},
urldate = {2020-10-13},
journal = {Cortex},
volume = {131},
pages = {328-345},
publisher = {Elsevier},
abstract = {We recorded EEG from participants performing both a comprehension and a production task in two separate blocks. Participants listened to high and low constraint incomplete sentences and were asked either to name a picture to complete it (production) or to simply listen to the final word (comprehension). We found that in a silent gap before the final stimulus, predictable stimuli elicited alpha and beta desynchronization in both tasks, signaling the pre-activation of linguistic information. Source estimation highlighted the involvement of left-lateralized language areas and temporo-parietal areas in the right hemisphere. Furthermore, correlations between the desynchronizations in comprehension and production showed spatiotemporal commonalities in language- relevant areas of the left hemisphere. As proposed by prediction-by-production models, our results suggest that comprehenders engage the production system while predicting upcoming words.
Keywords: language prediction, language production, alpha–beta oscillations, internal model},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
We recorded EEG from participants performing both a comprehension and a production task in two separate blocks. Participants listened to high and low constraint incomplete sentences and were asked either to name a picture to complete it (production) or to simply listen to the final word (comprehension). We found that in a silent gap before the final stimulus, predictable stimuli elicited alpha and beta desynchronization in both tasks, signaling the pre-activation of linguistic information. Source estimation highlighted the involvement of left-lateralized language areas and temporo-parietal areas in the right hemisphere. Furthermore, correlations between the desynchronizations in comprehension and production showed spatiotemporal commonalities in language- relevant areas of the left hemisphere. As proposed by prediction-by-production models, our results suggest that comprehenders engage the production system while predicting upcoming words.
Keywords: language prediction, language production, alpha–beta oscillations, internal model
Keywords: language prediction, language production, alpha–beta oscillations, internal model
2019
Arcara, Giorgio; Franzon, Francesca; Gastaldon, Simone; Brotto, Silvia; Semenza, Carlo; Peressotti, Francesca; Zanini, Chiara
One can be some but some cannot be one: ERP correlates of numerosity incongruence are different for singular and plural Journal Article
In: Cortex, vol. 116, pp. 104-121, 2019.
@article{Arcara2018,
title = {One can be some but some cannot be one: ERP correlates of numerosity incongruence are different for singular and plural},
author = {Giorgio Arcara and Francesca Franzon and Simone Gastaldon and Silvia Brotto and Carlo Semenza and Francesca Peressotti and Chiara Zanini},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2018.10.022},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-07-00},
journal = {Cortex},
volume = {116},
pages = {104-121},
abstract = {Humans can communicate information on numerosity by means of number words (e.g. one hundred, a couple), but also through Number morphology (e.g. through the singular vs. the plural forms of a noun). Agreement violations involving Number morphology (e.g. *one apples) are well known to elicit specific ERP components such as the Left Anterior Negativity (LAN); yet, the relationship between a morphological Number value (e.g. singular vs. plural) and its referential numerosity has been scantly considered in the literature. Moreover, even if agreement violations have been proved very useful, they do not typically characterise the everyday language usage, thus narrowing the scope of the results. In this study we investigated Number morphology from a different perspective, by focusing on the ERP correlates of congruence and incongruence between a depicted numerosity and noun phrases. To this aim we designed a picture–phrase matching paradigm in Italian. In each trial, a picture depicting one or four objects was followed by a grammatically well-formed phrase made up of a quantifier and a content noun inflected either in the singular or in the plural. When analysing ERP time-locked to the content noun, plural phrases after pictures presenting one object elicited a larger negativity, similar to a LAN effect. No significant congruence effect was found in the case of the phrases whose morphological Number value conveyed a numerosity of one. Our results suggest that 1) incongruence elicits a negativity (LAN-like) independently from the grammaticality of the utterances and irrespective the P600 component; 2) the reference to a numerosity can be partially encoded in an incremental way when processing Number morphology; and, most importantly, 3) the processing of the morphological Number value of plural is different from that of singular as the former shows a narrower interpretability than the latter.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Humans can communicate information on numerosity by means of number words (e.g. one hundred, a couple), but also through Number morphology (e.g. through the singular vs. the plural forms of a noun). Agreement violations involving Number morphology (e.g. *one apples) are well known to elicit specific ERP components such as the Left Anterior Negativity (LAN); yet, the relationship between a morphological Number value (e.g. singular vs. plural) and its referential numerosity has been scantly considered in the literature. Moreover, even if agreement violations have been proved very useful, they do not typically characterise the everyday language usage, thus narrowing the scope of the results. In this study we investigated Number morphology from a different perspective, by focusing on the ERP correlates of congruence and incongruence between a depicted numerosity and noun phrases. To this aim we designed a picture–phrase matching paradigm in Italian. In each trial, a picture depicting one or four objects was followed by a grammatically well-formed phrase made up of a quantifier and a content noun inflected either in the singular or in the plural. When analysing ERP time-locked to the content noun, plural phrases after pictures presenting one object elicited a larger negativity, similar to a LAN effect. No significant congruence effect was found in the case of the phrases whose morphological Number value conveyed a numerosity of one. Our results suggest that 1) incongruence elicits a negativity (LAN-like) independently from the grammaticality of the utterances and irrespective the P600 component; 2) the reference to a numerosity can be partially encoded in an incremental way when processing Number morphology; and, most importantly, 3) the processing of the morphological Number value of plural is different from that of singular as the former shows a narrower interpretability than the latter.
2017
Theofanopoulou, Constantina; Gastaldon, Simone; O’Rourke, Thomas; Samuels, Bridget D; Martins, Pedro Tiago; Delogu, Francesco; Alamri, Saleh; Boeckx, Cedric
Self-domestication in Homo sapiens: Insights from comparative genomics Journal Article
In: PLoS One, vol. 12, no. 10, pp. e0185306, 2017.
@article{theofanopoulou2017self,
title = {Self-domestication in Homo sapiens: Insights from comparative genomics},
author = { Constantina Theofanopoulou and Simone Gastaldon and Thomas O’Rourke and Bridget D Samuels and Pedro Tiago Martins and Francesco Delogu and Saleh Alamri and Cedric Boeckx},
url = {http://colab.psy.unipd.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Theofanopoulou-et-al.-2017.-Self-domestication-in-Homo-sapiens.-Insights-from-comparative-genomics.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185306},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-10-18},
journal = {PLoS One},
volume = {12},
number = {10},
pages = {e0185306},
publisher = {Public Library of Science},
abstract = {This study identifies and analyzes statistically significant overlaps between selective sweep screens in anatomically modern humans and several domesticated species. The results obtained suggest that (paleo-)genomic data can be exploited to complement the fossil record and support the idea of self-domestication in Homo sapiens, a process that likely intensified as our species populated its niche. Our analysis lends support to attempts to capture the “domestication syndrome” in terms of alterations to certain signaling pathways and cell lineages, such as the neural crest.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This study identifies and analyzes statistically significant overlaps between selective sweep screens in anatomically modern humans and several domesticated species. The results obtained suggest that (paleo-)genomic data can be exploited to complement the fossil record and support the idea of self-domestication in Homo sapiens, a process that likely intensified as our species populated its niche. Our analysis lends support to attempts to capture the “domestication syndrome” in terms of alterations to certain signaling pathways and cell lineages, such as the neural crest.
Conferences
2022
Gastaldon, S.; Quartarone, C.; Budisavljević, S.; Peressotti, F.
Language production performance in unimodal and bimodal bilinguals and structural properties of the frontal aslant tract Conference
Oral presentation at the 30th Conference of the Associazione Italiana di Psicologia, September 27-30, Padova, Italy., 2022.
@conference{Gastaldon2022b,
title = {Language production performance in unimodal and bimodal bilinguals and structural properties of the frontal aslant tract},
author = {S. Gastaldon and C. Quartarone and S. Budisavljević and F. Peressotti},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-09-28},
publisher = {Oral presentation at the 30th Conference of the Associazione Italiana di Psicologia, September 27-30, Padova, Italy.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
Gastaldon, S.; Bonfiglio, N.; Vespignani, F.; Bottari, D.; Brotto, D.; Trevisi, P.; Martini, A.; Peressotti, F.
Semantic predictability and articulatory cues during audio-visual speech comprehension in deaf people with cochlear implant: an electroencephalographic study Conference
Poster at the 22nd Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology (ESCOP), August 29 - September 1, Lille, France., 2022.
@conference{Gastaldon2022c,
title = {Semantic predictability and articulatory cues during audio-visual speech comprehension in deaf people with cochlear implant: an electroencephalographic study},
author = {S. Gastaldon and N. Bonfiglio and F. Vespignani and D. Bottari and D. Brotto and P. Trevisi and A. Martini and F. Peressotti},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-08-30},
urldate = {2023-08-30},
journal = {Poster at the 22nd Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology (ESCOP), August 29 - September 1, Lille, France.},
publisher = {Poster at the 22nd Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology (ESCOP), August 29 - September 1, Lille, France.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
Quartarone, C.; Gastaldon, S.; Navarrete, E.; Budisavljević, S.; Peressotti, F.
Frontal aslant tract and language production in bimodal and unimodal bilinguals Conference
Poster at the 22nd Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology (ESCOP), August 29 - September 1, Lille, France, 2022.
@conference{nokey,
title = {Frontal aslant tract and language production in bimodal and unimodal bilinguals},
author = {C. Quartarone and S. Gastaldon and E. Navarrete and S. Budisavljević and F. Peressotti},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-08-02},
urldate = {2022-08-02},
publisher = {Poster at the 22nd Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology (ESCOP), August 29 - September 1, Lille, France},
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Gastaldon, S.; Busan, P.; Arcara, G.; Peressotti, F.
Impaired speech-motor control in stuttering affects EEG correlates of predictive speech comprehension Conference
Talk at the TEX2022 workshop 'Bringing together Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning', July 19-22, SISSA - Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste, Italy., 2022.
@conference{Gastaldon2022,
title = {Impaired speech-motor control in stuttering affects EEG correlates of predictive speech comprehension},
author = {S. Gastaldon and P. Busan and G. Arcara and F. Peressotti},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-07-20},
urldate = {2022-07-20},
publisher = {Talk at the TEX2022 workshop 'Bringing together Predictive Processes and Statistical Learning', July 19-22, SISSA - Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste, Italy.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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2021
Gastaldon, Simone
Indagare il contributo della produzione linguistica nella predizione in comprensione. Indizi elettrofisiologici in adulti tipici e con balbuzie Conference
Oral presentation for the doctoral thesis prize competition, 17th Conference of the Italian Association of Psychology (AIP - Sezione Sperimentale), 8-10 September, Università del Salento, Lecce, Italy, 2021.
@conference{Gastaldon2021c,
title = {Indagare il contributo della produzione linguistica nella predizione in comprensione. Indizi elettrofisiologici in adulti tipici e con balbuzie},
author = {Simone Gastaldon},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-09-08},
publisher = {Oral presentation for the doctoral thesis prize competition, 17th Conference of the Italian Association of Psychology (AIP - Sezione Sperimentale), 8-10 September, Università del Salento, Lecce, Italy},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
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Quartarone, Cinzia; Budisavljević, Sanja; Gastaldon, Simone; Navarrete, Eduardo; Peressotti, Francesca
Frontal aslant tract and language production in bimodal and unimodal bilinguals Conference
Talk at the Architectures and Mechanisms for Language Processing (AMLaP), 2-4 September, Université de Paris, Paris, France, 2021.
@conference{Quartarone2021,
title = {Frontal aslant tract and language production in bimodal and unimodal bilinguals},
author = {Cinzia Quartarone and Sanja Budisavljević and Simone Gastaldon and Eduardo Navarrete and Francesca Peressotti},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-09-04},
publisher = {Talk at the Architectures and Mechanisms for Language Processing (AMLaP), 2-4 September, Université de Paris, Paris, France},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
Gastaldon, Simone; Bellelli, Stefano; Vespignani, Francesco; Zamparelli, Roberto
Silent repetition as a window into inner speech processing in the brain Conference
Short talk at the INSL - Current Approaches to Inner Speech and Inner Language workshop, July 1-2, Institute of Linguistics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, 2021.
@conference{Gastaldon2021b,
title = {Silent repetition as a window into inner speech processing in the brain},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Stefano Bellelli and Francesco Vespignani and Roberto Zamparelli},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-07-02},
publisher = {Short talk at the INSL - Current Approaches to Inner Speech and Inner Language workshop, July 1-2, Institute of Linguistics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
2020
Gastaldon, Simone; Lizarazu, Mikel; Peressotti, Francesca; Molinaro, Nicola
Speech-brain entrainment is reduced in adults who stutter when listening for speaking Conference
Poster at the IMPRS Conference 2020: Interdisciplinary Approaches in the Language Sciences, 3-5 June 2020, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 2020.
@conference{Gastaldon2020b,
title = {Speech-brain entrainment is reduced in adults who stutter when listening for speaking},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Mikel Lizarazu and Francesca Peressotti and Nicola Molinaro},
doi = {10.13140/RG.2.2.36658.43209},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-06-03},
publisher = {Poster at the IMPRS Conference 2020: Interdisciplinary Approaches in the Language Sciences, 3-5 June 2020, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
2019
Gastaldon, Simone; Arcara, Giorgio; Navarrete, Eduardo; Peressotti, Francesca
Anticipatory mechanisms at beta frequency in language comprehension and production Conference
Poster at the 21st Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology (ESCOP), September 25–28, Tenerife, Spain, 2019.
@conference{Gastaldon2019b,
title = {Anticipatory mechanisms at beta frequency in language comprehension and production},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Giorgio Arcara and Eduardo Navarrete and Francesca Peressotti},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-09-25},
publisher = { Poster at the 21st Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology (ESCOP), September 25–28, Tenerife, Spain},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
Gastaldon, Simone; Arcara, Giorgio; Navarrete, Eduardo; Natarelli, Giulia; Busan, Pierpaolo; Peressotti, Francesca
Predizione e produzione: Processi anticipatori nell’elaborazione del linguaggio in parlanti fluenti e con balbuzie Conference
Mini-talk at the XXV Congresso dell’Associazione Italiana di Psicologia – Sezione sperimentale, September 18-20, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy, 2019.
@conference{Gastaldon2019b,
title = {Predizione e produzione: Processi anticipatori nell’elaborazione del linguaggio in parlanti fluenti e con balbuzie},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Giorgio Arcara and Eduardo Navarrete and Giulia Natarelli and Pierpaolo Busan and Francesca Peressotti},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-09-18},
publisher = {Mini-talk at the XXV Congresso dell’Associazione Italiana di Psicologia – Sezione sperimentale, September 18-20, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
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Gastaldon, Simone; Arcara, Giorgio; Navarrete, Eduardo; Natarelli, Giulia; Busan, Pierpaolo; Peressotti, Francesca
Do I produce to predict? Brain oscillations in language anticipation in fluent speech and stuttering Conference
Talk at the 6th European Student Conference on Behaviour and Cognition (ESCBC), September 4-7, University of Padova, Padova, Italy., 2019.
@conference{Gastaldon2019b,
title = {Do I produce to predict? Brain oscillations in language anticipation in fluent speech and stuttering},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Giorgio Arcara and Eduardo Navarrete and Giulia Natarelli and Pierpaolo Busan and Francesca Peressotti},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-09-04},
publisher = {Talk at the 6th European Student Conference on Behaviour and Cognition (ESCBC), September 4-7, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
Gastaldon, Simone; Navarrete, Eduardo; Arcara, Giorgio; Peressotti, Francesca
Patterns of alpha and beta oscillations in language prediction and production Conference
Poster at the 7th Cognitive Science Arena 2019, February 15-16, 2019, Bressanone-Brixen, Italy, 2019.
@conference{Gastaldon2019b,
title = {Patterns of alpha and beta oscillations in language prediction and production},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Eduardo Navarrete and Giorgio Arcara and Francesca Peressotti},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-02-15},
publisher = {Poster at the 7th Cognitive Science Arena 2019, February 15-16, 2019, Bressanone-Brixen, Italy},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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Gastaldon, Simone; Navarrete, Eduardo; Arcara, Giorgio; Peressotti, Francesca
Oscillazioni neurali α e β in predizione e produzione linguistica: Caratteristiche comuni e distintive Conference
Poster at the Giornate di Studi Scientifici sul Linguaggio 2019, February 11-12, 2019, Rovereto, Italy, 2019.
@conference{Gastaldon2019,
title = {Oscillazioni neurali α e β in predizione e produzione linguistica: Caratteristiche comuni e distintive},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Eduardo Navarrete and Giorgio Arcara and Francesca Peressotti},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-02-11},
publisher = {Poster at the Giornate di Studi Scientifici sul Linguaggio 2019, February 11-12, 2019, Rovereto, Italy},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
2018
Gastaldon, Simone; Navarrete, Eduardo; Peressotti, Francesca
Producing, comprehending, and predicting: Project outline on spoken and signed language electrophysiology Conference
Poster at the 6th Cognitive Science Arena 2018, February 23–25, 2018, Bressanone-Brixen, Italy, 2018.
@conference{Gastaldon2018,
title = {Producing, comprehending, and predicting: Project outline on spoken and signed language electrophysiology},
author = {Simone Gastaldon and Eduardo Navarrete and Francesca Peressotti},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-02-23},
publisher = {Poster at the 6th Cognitive Science Arena 2018, February 23–25, 2018, Bressanone-Brixen, Italy},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
2017
Zanini, Chiara; Franzon, Francesca; Semenza, Carlo; Peressotti, Francesca; Gastaldon, Simone; Brotto, Silvia; Arcara, Giorgio
Referential numerosity in quantification expressions. An ERP study on Italian Conference
Poster at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Aphasia, November 5–7, 2017, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 2017.
@conference{Zanini2017b,
title = {Referential numerosity in quantification expressions. An ERP study on Italian},
author = {Chiara Zanini and Francesca Franzon and Carlo Semenza and Francesca Peressotti and Simone Gastaldon and Silvia Brotto and Giorgio Arcara},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-11-05},
publisher = {Poster at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Aphasia, November 5–7, 2017, Baltimore, Maryland, USA},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
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