Neuroscience of Language and Cognitive Processing

Cochlea

(inner ear) converts sound waves into neural signals.

Brainstem

processes basic sound properties.

Thalamus (Medial Geniculate Nucleus)

relays information to the cortex.

Primary Auditory Cortex

in the temporal lobe processes sounds for meaning.

Temporal Lobe

Processes auditory input (Wernicke's area for comprehension).

Frontal Lobe

Controls language production (Broca's area).

Angular & Supramarginal Gyri

Aid in reading, writing, and phonological processing.

Nature (Chomsky)

Innate language acquisition device (LAD).

Nurture (Skinner)

Language learned through reinforcement and modeling.

Social Interactionist (Vygotsky)

Language develops through social engagement.

Aphasia

(damage to Broca's or Wernicke's area).

Dyslexia

(reading impairment due to phonological deficits).

Speech Delay

(late talking, difficulty forming words).

Cerebellum

Coordination, balance, fine motor control.

Basal Ganglia

Movement regulation, motor learning.

Primary Motor Cortex (Precentral Gyrus)

Directs voluntary muscle movements.

Premotor Cortex

Plans and refines movements.

Parkinson's Disease

Dopamine deficiency affecting movement.

Cerebral Palsy

Damage to motor control centers in the brain.

Fusiform Face Area (FFA)

in the Temporal Lobe specializes in facial recognition.

Prosopagnosia (Face Blindness)

Impairment in facial recognition due to FFA damage.

Binet

Developed the first IQ test, introduced the concept of Mental Age.

Spearman's Two-Factor Theory

Intelligence consists of general ability (g) and specific skills (s).

Gardner's Multiple Intelligences

Includes logical, linguistic, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic intelligence.

Standard Scores

Compare an individual's performance to a normed group.

Percentiles

Show relative ranking within a population.

Z-Scores

Indicate how far a score deviates from the mean.

Goleman's Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Ability to recognize and manage emotions.

Psychoeducational Evaluation

Assesses learning disabilities and academic performance.

Neuropsychological Evaluation

Evaluates cognitive functions (memory, attention, executive function).

Learning Disorder Diagnosis

Based on discrepancy between IQ and achievement.

Interventions

Special education, accommodations (extended test time, structured learning support).

ventral cochlea

encodes intensity information