Language and the Brain

These flashcards cover essential concepts related to language processing in the brain, including language disorders, brain structures involved, key terminology, and models of language comprehension and production.

What brain structures are critical for language production and comprehension?

A left-hemisphere network involving the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes.

What is Broca's aphasia characterized by?

Problems with speech production, syntax, and grammar, while comprehension remains relatively intact.

What area is primarily associated with Wernicke's aphasia?

Wernicke's area, located in the posterior superior temporal gyrus.

What is the arcuate fasciculus?

A large neural fiber tract connecting Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas.

What is a morpheme?

The smallest meaningful unit of language.

What does syntax refer to in language?

The organization of words into grammatically permitted sentences.

What is the N400 brain wave associated with?

Semantic processes in language comprehension.

What condition results from damage to the occipitotemporal cortex?

Pure alexia, a condition where patients cannot read words despite having normal language abilities.

What is the biggest challenge in distinguishing speech sounds for listeners?

The segmentation problem, where it is difficult to discern where one word ends and another begins.

How does the brain differentiate between speech and nonspeech sounds?

Using different processing pathways in the superior temporal sulcus.

What are lexical access and selection?

The processes of retrieving word forms from the mental lexicon and selecting the representation that best matches the input.

What role do context and higher-level representations play in word processing?

They can influence word recognition and lexical selection.

What is the role of the left inferior frontal gyrus in language processing?

Involved in both syntactic and semantic unification of language.

How is speech production organized in the brain?

It involves a network of regions including the left inferior frontal gyrus, supplementary motor area, and primary motor cortex.

What is the difference in language processing between humans and other nonhuman primates?

Humans have more complex and interconnected left-perisylvian regions for language specialization.

What functions do mirror neurons serve in the context of language?

They may help explain the evolution of language through gesture and communication.

What is the significance of the left-hemisphere's dominance in language?

It shows that language ability is primarily localized to the left hemisphere, influencing both gesture and vocalization.