Presentation software

Imaging was performed on a 3.0-T Tim Trio system (Siemens Medical Systems, Germany) using a 32-channel head coil. BOLD-sensitive T2*-weighted functional images were acquired using a single shot gradient-echo EPI pulse sequence (TR = 2400 ms, TE = 30 ms, flip angle = 90°, slice thickness = 3.5 mm, matrix size = 68 × 68, FOV = 240 mm, 35 slices per volume). The first two volumes after each scanner pause were discarded to allow for T1 equilibration effects. Field maps were created from a double echo gradient-echo pulse sequence (31 slices, TE1 = 4.92 ms, TE2 = 7.38 ms, TR = 400 ms, slice gap = 0.9 mm, slice thickness = 3.5 mm, matrix size 68 × 68, FOV = 240 mm). Visual stimuli were presented onto a screen using the Software Presentation (Neurobehavioral Systems, Albany, CA) and viewed through a mirror attached to the head coil.

Short video clips (mean duration: 1384 ms ± 264 ms) depicting the faces of professional actors (5 male, 5 female) speaking German sentences consisting of four words (e.g.”Ich fühle mich ruhig” translation: “I feel calm”) in happy, neutral, or angry tone of voice with a corresponding facial expression were used as stimulus material in an event-related design (for a detailed description of the stimuli, see^{55 (link)}. These stimuli (20 per emotional category) were presented without auditory stimulation (mute video clips) and the participants were engaged in a gender decision task to keep the participants attentive of the stimuli during scanning. We employed an implicit emotion perception paradigm as this more closely resembles natural situations than paradigms that include explicit instructions to judge emotions. Responses were conveyed via button press via a fiber optic system and recorded by the stimulation software (Software Presentation, Neurobehavioral Systems). Responses had no influence on stimulus presentation and no feedback regarding whether the responses were correct or not was given during the experiment. A black fixation cross was presented during an inter trial interval of varying duration ranging from 8.5 to 15 s (jittered in steps of TR/4).

Imaging was performed on a 3T Siemens Magnetom Skyra tomograph (Siemens Medical Systems, Erlangen, Germany) using a 32‐channel head coil. BOLD‐sensitive T2*‐weighted functional images were acquired using a single shot gradient‐echo EPI pulse sequence (TR = 2.4 s, TE = 30 ms, flip angle = 90°, slice thickness = 3.5 mm, voxel size = 3.5 × 3.5 × 3.5, FoV = 240 mm, 36 axial slices per volume). To record the verbal response of the participants, a MR compatible microphone was used (FOMRI‐III, Optoacoustics Ltd., Moshav Mazor, Israel). Visual stimuli were presented using the Software Presentation (Neurobehavioral Systems, Albany, CA).

Imaging was performed on a 3T MRI scanner MAGNETOM Skyra (Siemens Medical Systems, Erlangen, Germany) using a 32‐channel head coil. Structural images were acquired using a MPRAGE T1‐weighted sequence (TR = 1,680 ms, TE = 1.89 ms, inversion time = 1,000 ms, flip angle = 8°, 192 sagittal slices, FOV = 224 × 224 mm, distance factor = 50%, slice thickness = 0.88 mm). BOLD‐sensitive T2*‐weighted functional images were acquired using a single shot gradient‐echo EPI pulse sequence (TR = 2,520 ms, TE = 30 ms, flip angle = 90°, slice thickness = 3.3 mm, 10% distance factor, matrix size = 66 × 66, FoV = 218 mm, 38 axial slices per volume, order descending). Head motion was restricted using firm padding that surrounded the head. To record the verbal responses of the participants, an MR compatible microphone was used (FOMRI‐III, Optoacoustics Ltd., Moshav Mazor, Israel). Stimuli were presented using the Software Presentation (Neurobehavioral Systems, Albany, CA).

Imaging was performed on a 3 T MRI scanner MAGNETOM Skyra (Siemens Medical Systems, Erlangen, Germany) using a 32-channel head coil. Structural images were acquired using a MPRAGE T1-weighted sequence (TR = 1950 ms, TE = 2.89 ms, inversion time = 950 ms, flip angle = 12°, 176 sagittal slices, FOV = 256 × 256 mm). BOLD-sensitive T2*-weighted functional images were acquired using a single shot gradient-echo EPI pulse sequence (TR = 2520 ms, TE = 30 ms, flip angle = 90°, slice thickness = 3.3 mm, 10% distance factor, matrix size = 66 × 66, FoV = 218 mm, 38 axial slices per volume, order descending). The first two volumes were discarded to allow for T1 equilibration effects. In addition to structural and functional images, a dual-echo gradient echo field map (TR = 403 ms, deltaTE = 2.46 ms) was recorded for distortion correction of the acquired EPI images. Head motion was restricted using firm padding that surrounded the head. An MR compatible microphone was utilized to record the verbal responses of the participants (FOMRI-III, Optoacoustics Ltd., Moshav Mazor, Israel). Stimuli were presented with the Software Presentation (Neurobehavioral Systems, Albany, CA).

The speaking test battery included in this study consisted of a number of well-known tools commonly used to test verbal abilities as well as spontaneous speaking tasks that were used to elicit discourse that is as close to natural speech as possible. When selecting the tests, care was taken to ensure that they cover a spectrum of tests that range from formal speaking tests such as word generation and picture naming to less structured tests such as picture description and spontaneous speech. All speaking tasks were presented and automatically recorded using Presentation software (Neurobehavioral Systems, Inc.; Version 20.1, Build 12.04.17) on an HP ProBook 4730s and using a Logitech Stereo USB Headset as a microphone.