Towards a Better Understanding of Brain Connectivity and Network Correlates of Language

Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this Special Issue is to gain a deeper understanding of brain connectivity and network dynamics underlying healthy and abnormal language processing. Particular interest is in elucidating induced changes in connectivity and network properties in response to behavioral or language interventions that are paired with noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS). Evidence indicates that language processing occurs in a widely distributed network of temporal, frontal, and parietal brain regions. Correspondingly, language impairments after brain injuries, such as after a stroke, are increasingly conceptualized as deficits arising from diminished functional connectivity and disruptions in the distributed language network. In this Special Issue, we are interested in extending this knowledge to better understand the distributed and specialized language processing dynamics both in normal and abnormal brain systems. We place special emphasis on changes in brain dynamics (connectivity and network properties) as a function of NIBS and language therapies, and studies that use these tools for the assessment or prediction of NIBS treatment effectiveness or language outcome.

In this research topic, we welcome submissions involving:

(1) healthy individuals (young or old) or those with brain disorders, including but not limited to stroke, brain tumors, and neurodegenerative conditions; 

(2) functional or effective connectivity and network measures as derived from resting-state or task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), or magnetoencephalography (MEG); evaluations of structural connectivity/networks within the scope of this topic are welcome;

(3) NIBS modalities including transcranial electrical stimulation (transcranial direct current (tDCS), alternating current (tACS), or random noise stimulation (tRNS)) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS);

(4) a behavioral focus on speech and language aspects;

(5) language therapies either for performance enhancement in healthy individuals, or for therapeutic enhancement in clinical populations will be considered;

Dr. Roy H. Hamilton
Dr. Priyanka Shah-Basak
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• language
• functional connectivity
• brain networks
• non-invasive brain stimulation
• aphasia