Figure 1.

VT hardware, speech-to-tactile transformation algorithms, stimuli, fMRI experimental design, and model dissimilarity matrix. A, Sixteen-channel MRI-compatible VT stimulator. B, The token-based algorithm for transforming spoken words into VT patterns. It assigns each phoneme a distinct VT pattern (for more details, see Materials and Methods). C, The vocoding algorithm which focuses on preserving the temporal dynamics between the auditory and VT stimuli. D, The auditory (top) and VT (bottom) fMRI one-back paradigms used in the study. In both paradigms, subjects focused on a central fixation cross, and pressed a button in their left hand if they heard or felt the same stimulus twice in a row. Green frame (not shown in task) indicates such a one-back trial. ITI, Intertrial interval; TA, acquisition time.