Language comprehension depends on tight functional interactions between distributed brain regions. While these interactions are established for semantic and syntactic processes, the functional network of speech intonation – the linguistic variation of pitch – has been scarcely defined. Particularly little is known about intonation in tonal languages, in which pitch not only serves intonation but also expresses meaning via lexical tones. The present study used psychophysiological interaction analyses of functional magnetic resonance imaging data to characterise the neural networks underlying intonation and tone processing in native Mandarin Chinese speakers. Participants categorised either intonation or tone of monosyllabic Mandarin words that gradually varied between statement and question and between Tone 2 and Tone 4. Intonation processing induced bilateral fronto‐temporal activity and increased functional connectivity between left inferior frontal gyrus and bilateral temporal regions, likely linking auditory perception and labelling of intonation categories in a phonological network. Tone processing induced bilateral temporal activity, associated with the auditory representation of tonal (phonemic) categories. Together, the present data demonstrate the breadth of the functional intonation network in a tonal language including higher‐level phonological processes in addition to auditory representations common to both intonation and tone.

中文翻译：

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语调处理增加了声调语言使用者中特定任务的额颞连通性

语言理解取决于分布式大脑区域之间的紧密功能相互作用。虽然这些相互作用是为语义和句法过程建立的，但语音语调的功能网络——音调的语言变化——几乎没有被定义。对声调语言中的语调知之甚少，其中音高不仅服务于语调，而且还通过词汇声调表达意义。本研究使用功能磁共振成像数据的心理生理学相互作用分析来表征以汉语为母语的人的语调和语调处理的神经网络。参与者对单音节普通话单词的语调或语调进行分类，这些单词在陈述和问题之间以及在声调 2 和声调 4 之间逐渐变化。语调处理诱导双侧额颞活动并增加左额下回和双侧颞区之间的功能连接，可能将听觉感知和语音网络中语调类别的标记联系起来。音调处理引起双边时间活动，与音调（音素）类别的听觉表示相关。总之，目前的数据证明了声调语言中功能语调网络的广度，除了语调和声调共有的听觉表征外，还包括更高级别的语音过程。可能将听觉感知和语音网络中语调类别的标签联系起来。音调处理引起双边时间活动，与音调（音素）类别的听觉表示相关。总之，目前的数据证明了声调语言中功能语调网络的广度，除了语调和声调共有的听觉表征外，还包括更高级别的语音过程。可能将听觉感知和语音网络中语调类别的标签联系起来。音调处理引起双边时间活动，与音调（音素）类别的听觉表示相关。总之，目前的数据证明了声调语言中功能语调网络的广度，除了语调和声调共有的听觉表征外，还包括更高级别的语音过程。