Objective An issue dominating the current debate in the field of written language processing concerns the existence of brain areas dedicated to the visual perception of words. Cohen et al. (2002) suggested that such visual specialization occurs in occipito-temporal region of the left hemisphere, namely at the ‘Visual Word Form Area’ (VWFA). Using Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and presenting words and anagrams for a lexical decision task, Pammer et al. (2004) showed that the activation of the VWFA was temporally preceded by activity in the posterior superior IFG. Such findings question the functional role of the VWFA as exclusively in the visual domain and suggest early top-down influences of frontal areas on fusiform gyrus. A way to further investigate these issue, and in particular the impact of phonology on visual recognition would be to investigate the temporal activation of the brain regions responsible for phonological and visual processing when phonology is impaired but visual recognition is intact, as in deaf readers. WoRHD is an exploration of the impact of auditory deprivation on the cortical network involved in word recognition. Such investigation will show the overall impact of deafness on written language processing, by looking at similarities and differences between neural networks recruited by participants with and without auditory deprivation in a lexical decision task. Specifically, participants with auditory deprivation are prevented forming phonological representations of words and letters, which might affect the functioning of brain areas typically associated with phonological processing and/or their interaction with other regions of the brain. WoRHD integrates in a multimodal approach classical cognitive experimental paradigm with brain imaging techniques such functional MRI, Electroencephalography and Diffusion Tensor Imaging. Fields of science humanitieslanguages and literaturelinguisticsphonologynatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencecomputational intelligence Keywords Cognitive science Experimental psychology Neuropsychology Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) PEOPLE-2007-2-2.ERG - Marie Curie Action: "European Reintegration Grants" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-2-ERG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-ERG - European Re-integration Grants (ERG) Coordinator CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE EU contribution € 11 250,00 Address PIAZZALE ALDO MORO 7 00185 Roma Italy See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Isabella Vitali (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all OSPEDALE PEDIATRICO BAMBINO GESU Participation ended Italy EU contribution € 33 750,00 Address PIAZZA SANT ONOFRIO 4 00165 Roma See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Sonya Jane Martin (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data