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01-06-2021 | Original Article

The cortical organization of writing sequence: evidence from observing Chinese characters in motion

Authors: Zhaoqi Zhang, Qiming Yuan, Zeping Liu, Man Zhang, Junjie Wu, Chunming Lu, Guosheng Ding, Taomei Guo

Published in: Brain Structure and Function | Issue 5/2021

Abstract

Writing sequences play an important role in handwriting of Chinese characters. However, little is known regarding the integral brain patterns and network mechanisms of processing Chinese character writing sequences. The present study decoded brain patterns during observing Chinese characters in motion by using multi-voxel pattern analysis, meta-analytic decoding analysis, and extended unified structural equation model. We found that perception of Chinese character writing sequence recruited brain regions not only for general motor schema processing, i.e., the right inferior frontal gyrus, shifting, and inhibition functions, i.e., the right postcentral gyrus and bilateral pre-SMA/dACC, but also for sensorimotor functions specific for writing sequences. More importantly, these brain regions formed a cooperatively top-down brain network where information was transmitted from brain regions for general motor schema processing to those specific for writing sequences. These findings not only shed light on the neural mechanisms of Chinese character writing sequences, but also extend the hierarchical control model on motor schema processing.

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Title: The cortical organization of writing sequence: evidence from observing Chinese characters in motion
Authors: Zhaoqi Zhang
Qiming Yuan
Zeping Liu
Man Zhang
Junjie Wu
Chunming Lu
Guosheng Ding
Taomei Guo
Publication date: 01-06-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Brain Structure and Function / Issue 5/2021
Print ISSN: 1863-2653
Electronic ISSN: 1863-2661
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-021-02276-x

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

The cortical organization of writing sequence: evidence from observing Chinese characters in motion

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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