Brain and Language PDF

Review: Which areas are impaired/unimpaired? ASPECT OF LANGUAGE FUNCTION DISORDER Syntax Semantics Lexicon Broca’s Wernicke’s Anomia 7 Even more kinds of aphasia You’re responsible for understanding: – Broca’s aphasia – Wernicke’s aphasia – Anomia Although left hemisphere is usually wired for l...

Review: Which areas are impaired/unimpaired? ASPECT OF LANGUAGE FUNCTION DISORDER Syntax Semantics Lexicon Broca’s Wernicke’s Anomia 7 Even more kinds of aphasia You’re responsible for understanding: – Broca’s aphasia – Wernicke’s aphasia – Anomia Although left hemisphere is usually wired for language, sometimes the right hemisphere gets involved (plasiticity – adaptability of brain) https://youtu.be/lBqShvm4QRA?t=42 What can we learn from Aphasiology? • Language function isn’t housed in a simple ‘box’ in the brain. • Discrete areas control different aspects of language: one area of language use may be compromised while another is fine. 9 Brain and Language The study of these different types of aphasia shows that different domains of language are differentially impacted by different types of trauma. We will see a similar pattern when we consider certain genetic disorders as well. This shows us that the distinction between the different domains of language we’ve reviewed (lexicon, phonology, syntax, semantics) is psychologically real (not just different chapters in a textbook!). 10