Languages and the Brain

Language and the Brain

• The idea that specific brain areas are specialized for language functions dates back to the 19th century.
• Paul Pierre Broca discovered an area in the left frontal lobe (Broca's area) responsible for speech and found that left-side brain injuries are more likely to result in language loss.

Brain Regions Involved in Language Processing

• Broca's area and Wernicke's area are located in the left hemisphere of the brain and are central to language processing.
• Wernicke's area is adjacent to the part of the cortex that processes audio input.
• Many more areas of the brain are involved in language activity than initially thought, but core linguistic processes are typically housed in the left hemisphere.

Lateralization and Brain Development

• The specialization of the two halves of the brain is known as lateralization, which is present even in infancy.
• Brain plasticity decreases as the brain matures, making it less able to assume the functions of another area if damaged.

Critical Period Hypothesis

• The Critical Period Hypothesis proposes that children have a limited number of years to acquire their first language (L1) flawlessly, and brain damage to language areas can be compensated by other areas of the brain in childhood.

Paul Pierre Broca

• Broca made a significant discovery about the anatomy of the brain, finding the speech center (Broca's Area).
• He was a child prodigy, earning baccalaureates in literature, mathematics, and physics, and began medical school at 17.

Hemispheric Specialization for Language

• The left hemisphere is primarily specialized for phonology, morphology, syntax, intonation, function words, and lexical knowledge.
• The right hemisphere is primarily specialized for nonverbal communication, visuospatial information, and nonliteral meaning.
• Hemispheric specialization for language is the same regardless of whether the language is spoken or signed.