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LANGUAGE AND BRAIN
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Lecture notes of 8 pages for the course NEUROPSYCHOLOGY at UNN (LECTURE 8/15)
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Lecture 8 – Language and BrainConcepts = meanings
Concept representations = brain structures which show meanings
(theoretical/behavioural/neuroanatomical)
Language as a UNIQUE cognitive function - Goals:
Understand (1) neuroanatomical and (2) functional
properties of the brain structures supporting language
function.
- Neuroanatomical = where things are, what parts of the
brain are engaged (is it a specific area?)
- Functional properties = how are they activated (how
quick does it occur)
A comprehensive theory of language needs to relate (1)
linguistic categories (e.g., phonemes, words, grammar) and (2) processes (e.g.,
production, comprehension, reading) to (3) their brain correlates in (4) control, (5)
bilingual, and (6) clinical populations, among others.
A complex cognitive function;
- A most complex brain function involving = Sensory/Motor/Cognitive/Memory
- Receptive & productive;
- Signal Comprehension and then Thoughts and ideas Signal
- language may not be as modular as we think but language was evolved to support
social structures
- Major adaptation, may be the driving force for increased brain size and complexity
- Language is a …
- Open-ended creative communication system
- Words and grammar
- Concrete (objects) and abstract (philosophy/love)
- Situated (what we see in front of us) and displaced (unique to humans, telling
someone about what we saw earlier)
Are brains similar to computers? Modularity vs interactivity:
- Assumptions of modularity (Fodor, J. A. 1983. Modularity of Mind);
- 1) Domain specificity: Modules only operate on certain kinds of inputs – they are
specialised
- 2) Informational encapsulation: Modules need not refer to other psychological
systems to operate
- 3) Obligatory firing: Modules process in a mandatory manner
- 4) Fast speed: Encapsulated processes are fast due to (1) needing to consult a
restricted database, (2) unconstrained by other processes, and (3) time need not be
wasted in determining whether or not to process incoming input
- 5) Shallow outputs: The output of modules is very simple
- 6) Limited accessibility
- 7) Characteristic ontogeny: There is a regularity in development
- 8) Fixed neural architecture: Dedicated neuroanatomical circuits
- Fodor looks at modularity and because it’s very specific it is seen as falsifiable.
, - Domain specificity means that if there is an area which has a specific input it doesn’t
do anything else (modular). Brain plasticity shows that modularity isn’t true because
brain areas take over certain functions of neighbouring areas, therefore supports
interactive approach. Informational capsulation means networks don’t need to use
other networks to process successfully (modular).
• Modular vs Interactive (Do brain circuits interact?)
• Parallel vs Serial (Is activation of brain circuits sequential or parallel?)
• Modular views tend to be serial and vice versa
Phrenology, Franz Gall (1758 - 1828):
- Phrenology = (Greek: φρήν, phrēn, "mind"; and λόγος, logos, "knowledge")
- Parts of the brain supports specific functions, shown by pictures on each area of the
brain. Each area supports different processes.
- Fanz measured the brain and said that certain brain shapes
meant they were a better or worse person. E.g. a longer head
showed a genuine person (shown in picture).
Korbinian Brodmann;
- Franz’s work led to a German neurologist Korbinian Brodmann
(1868 - 1918) used cytoarchitectonic analysis (studying under
the microscope the cellular composition of the brain tissues) in order to describe brain
organization.
- Determined 52 distinct brain regions known as Brodmann
areas (atlas), shown in picture.
- Brodmann area 41 and 42 – hearing
- Brodmann area 45 and 44 (Broca's area) – language
- Brodmann area 1,2,3 – somatosensory processing
- Brodmann area 4 – motor control
- Brodmann area 17, 18 – primary visual processing
- E.g., somatosensory processing supports actions of the
body
- E.g. visual cortex looks at edges of objects and colours etc.
- E.g. auditory cortex (Herschl’s gyrus) specific neurons are programmed to process
specific sounds levels.
Language circuit, Brain areas involved in language;
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