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Brain and Language

The document discusses the relationship between the brain and language. It covers topics like the localization of language in different areas of the brain, evidence from aphasia cases, and theories of language development and critical periods. Research using various brain imaging technologies and studies of split brain patients, savants, and specific language impairment provide insights into the brain mechanisms underlying language.

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Jasper Angeles
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198 views3 pages

Brain and Language

The document discusses the relationship between the brain and language. It covers topics like the localization of language in different areas of the brain, evidence from aphasia cases, and theories of language development and critical periods. Research using various brain imaging technologies and studies of split brain patients, savants, and specific language impairment provide insights into the brain mechanisms underlying language.

Uploaded by

Jasper Angeles
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Meycauayan College

Calvario, Meycauayan, Bulacan


Graduate School Department
Second Semester
A.Y. 2016-2017

Mark Darwin V. Garcia Structure of English


MAEd -English Prof. Rowena Javier - Rivero

Brain and Language


I. Introduction

The brain is the most complex organ of the body, controlling motor and sensory activities and thought
processes. Research conducted for more than a century has shown that different parts of the brain control
different body functions. The nerve cells that form the surface of the brain are called the cortex, which
serves as the intellectual decision maker, receiving messages from the sensory organs and initiating all
voluntary actions. The brain of all higher animals is divided into two parts called the cerebral
hemispheres, which are connected by the corpus callosum, a network that permits the left and right
hemispheres to communicate. Each hemisphere exhibits contralateral control of functions. The left
hemisphere controls the right side of the body, and the right hemisphere controls the left side. Despite the
general symmetry of the human body, much evidence suggests that the brain is asymmetric, with the left
and right hemispheres lateralized for different functions.

II. Body
1. The Localization of the Language in the Brain
Joseph Gall- proposed the theory of localization which is the idea that different human
cognitive abilities and behaviors are localized in specific parts of the brain. He proposed that
language is located in the frontal lobes of the brain
Johann Spurzheim a disciple of Gall who introduced phrenology to America.
Aphasia is the neurological term for any language disorder that results from brain damage
caused by disease or trauma.

Paul Broca (Brocas Aphasia) Carl Wernicke (Wernickes Aphasia)


French surgeon who proposed that language is a German neurologist, described another variety
localized to the left hemisphere of the brain, of aphasia that occurred in patients with lesions
and more specifically to the front part of the left in areas of the left hemisphere temporal lobe,
hemisphere (now called Brocas area) now known as Wernickes area.

Brocas aphasia is characterized by labored Wernickes aphasia produces fluent speech


speech and certain kinds of word-finding with good intonation, and they may largely
difficulties, but it is primarily a disorder that adhere to the rules of syntax.
affects a persons ability to form sentences
with the rules of syntax.
language produced is often agrammatic language is often semantically incoherent and
often referred to as jargon aphasia

The damage to different parts of the brain results in different kinds of linguistic
impairment (e.g., syntactic versus semantic). This supports the hypothesis that the mental
grammar, like the brain itself, is not an undifferentiated system, but rather consists of
distinct components or modules with different functions.
The study of aphasia has provided empirical evidence concerning theories of word
structure, sentence formation, meaning, and sound systems
Dyslexia - refers to reading disorders. Many word substitutions are made by people who
become dyslexic after brain damage. It might be acquired dyslexia or developmental
dyslexia.
Brain Imaging Technology
a. MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
b. CT scans - Computer Tomography
c. PET Positron Emission Tomography
d. Functional MRI
e. SPECT scans Single Photon Emission Computer Tomography
2. Split Brain
Hemispherectomy a procedure in which one hemisphere of the brain is surgically
removed.
Surgical removal of the left hemisphere inevitably results in severe loss of language
function (and so is done only in life-threatening circumstances), whereas adults (and
children who have already acquired language) who have had their right hemispheres
removed retain their language abilities. Other cognitive losses may result, such as those
typically lateralized to the right hemisphere.
Psychologist Michael Gazzaniga states that With [the corpus callosum] intact, the two
halves of the body have no secrets from one another. With it sectioned, the two halves
become two different conscious mental spheres, each with its own experience base
andcontrol system for behavioral operations. . . . Unbelievable as this may seem, this is
the flavor of a long series of experimental studies first carried out in the cat and monkey
3. The Autonomy of Language
Specific Language Impairment (SLI) characterized by having problems with the use of
function words such as articles, prepositions, and auxiliary verbs
Savants Intellectually handicapped individuals
4. Language and Brain Development
The critical-age hypothesis assumes that language is biologically based and that the
ability to learn a native language develops within a fixed period, from birth to middle
childhood. During this critical period, language acquisition proceeds easily, swiftly, and
without external intervention. After this period, the acquisition of grammar is difficult
and, for most individuals, never fully achieved
III. Conclusion
The attempt to understand what makes the acquisition and use of language possible has
led to research on the brain-mind-language relationship. Neurolinguistics is the study of
the brain mechanisms and anatomical structures that underlie linguistic competence and
performance.
The language faculty is modular. It is independent of other cognitive systems with which
it interacts. Evidence for modularity is found in studies of aphasia, of children with
specific language impairment (SLI), of linguistic savants, and of children who learn
language past the critical period. The genetic basis for an independent language module is
supported by studies of SLI in families and twins and by studies of genetic anomalies
associated with language disorders.

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