NE101 Lec 29: Language

Language is a system for representing and communicating information using __________ according to grammatical rules.

word combinations

Language can be spoken, written, or communicated through __________.

gestures

All human tribes have been found to __________ a language.

speak

Non-human primates can learn symbolic __________, but not with the complexity of humans.

sign language

Vocal cords contract and change the shape of the __________.

glottis

Sound frequency and loudness are controlled by the contraction of __________.

muscles of the vocal cords

Sounds are produced as air vibrates the __________ while passing through the glottis.

vocal cords

The three major language areas are Broca’s area, Wernicke’s area, and the __________ cortex.

primary auditory

All language processing depends on communication with the __________ cortex.

auditory

The split-brain procedure severs the __________ to treat epilepsy.

corpus callosum

Language is primarily processed in the __________ hemisphere.

left

Visual perception is primarily processed in the __________ hemisphere.

right

Split-brain patients cannot verbally identify objects presented to the __________ visual field.

left

The right hemisphere can comprehend some language but cannot properly __________ or __________ it.

read, produce

Broca’s area is important for generating __________ words.

spoken

Broca’s aphasia causes difficulty __________ language smoothly.

producing

People with Broca’s aphasia generally __________ words normally.

understand

Wernicke’s area is important for language __________.

comprehension

Wernicke’s aphasia results in fluent but __________ speech.

incoherent

Wernicke’s aphasia patients cannot properly __________ what is said to them.

understand

Conduction aphasia results from damage to fibers connecting __________ and __________ areas.

broca’s, wernicke’s

Patients with conduction aphasia cannot properly __________ words spoken to them.

repeat

Language comprehension and production remain __________ with conduction aphasia.

preserved

Speech prostheses decode intentions to speak using electrodes implanted in __________ areas.

speech

Decoded neural signals are used to generate sounds and facial expressions through an __________.

avatar

The KE family had a speech disorder caused by a mutation in the __________ gene.

FOXP2

FOXP2 is a __________ factor important for neural development.

transcription

Affected FOXP2 mutated family members had reduced gray matter in the ______, _______, and __________ area.

striatum, caudate, broca’s

Mice with FOXP2 mutations cannot form proper high-frequency __________.

sounds

Dyslexia involves difficulty learning to __________ despite normal intelligence.

read

Dyslexia affects roughly __________% of people.

5-10

People with a dyslexic sibling have a __________% chance of also having dyslexia.

30-50

Learning a new language becomes more difficult with __________.

age

The critical period for language learning extends until about age __________.

seven

Babies use sound __________ to learn where word boundaries occur.

statistics

Low-probability sound pairings indicate likely __________.

word breaks

Babies initially produce random sounds, a stage known as __________.

babbling

Vocabulary and meaning (“semantics”) are learned through observation and __________.

repetition

Juvenile birds learn by trying to match the __________ song.

tutor

The phase where birds listen to the tutor’s song is the __________ phase.

sensory

The phase where birds practice and adjust their song is the __________ phase.

sensory-motor

When the song becomes stable and unchanging, it is in the __________ phase.

crystallized

LMAN promotes __________ (variability) in song learning.

exploration

Inactivating LMAN prematurely causes the song to __________ early.

crystallize

Area X promotes learning for __________ (accurate performance).

exploitation

Area X is analogous to the __________ in mammals.

basal ganglia

Exploration is favored when there is high __________ in what the best action is.

uncertainty

Exploitation is favored when the optimal __________ is clear.

action

Children show high exploration through behaviors like __________ and play.

babbling

what brain area is this?

broca’s area

what brain area is this?

primary auditory cortex

what brain area is this?

wernicke’s area