Neurolinguistics

1. NEUROLINGUISTICS

2. Main FOCUS on
1. Localization of
language process
2. Aphasia

3. All this is what
NEUROLINGUISTICS is about
1)
2)
3)
Neurolinguistics’ cool

4. A FORMAL definition
NEUROLINGUISTICS is the study
of the neural mechanisms in the
human brain that control the
comprehension, production, and
acquisition of language.

5. A MULTIDISCIPLINARY field
neuroscience
computer science
psychology
linguistics
NEUROLINGUISTICS

6. LOCALIZATION of language
process
Where are words?
In the left hemisphere
Why we know it?
Paul Broca

7. LOCALIZATION of language
process
(1)Broca’s area speech
production.
(2)Wernicle’s area 
speech comprehension
(3)Motor
Cortex  muscular
movements.
(4)Arcuate fasciculus 
they connect Wernicke’s
and Broca’s areas.

8. What about the RIGHT hemisphere?
Verbal Language
+ NON- VERBAL LANGUAGE

9. NON- VERBAL LANGUAGE
HOW something is said
The righ hemisphere interprets the emotional
connotation of words.
Vs
Verbal Language
WHAT is said
The left hemisphere formulates and
understands the meaning of words.
IMPORTANT
for language

10. An EXAMPLE of a person who has THE
RIGHT HEMISPHERE DAMAGE
Is Irene a nice
person?
Yes, she really is a
nice girl
(in a SARCASTIC
tone)
He thinks
that Irene
is nice.

11. APHASIA
• Impairment of language ability.
• Developed by injury, a stroke, a brain tumor, or
dementia.
• Different types of aphasias.

12. Types of Aphasia
• Expressive aphasia (Broca’s aphasia):
- Loss of the ability to produce language.
• Receptive aphasia (Wernicke’s aphasia):
- Normal grammar.
- Incorrect language content.

13. Treatment
• No one effective treatment for all types of
aphasia.
• But treatment in general has positive outcomes
by:
- Repetition.
- Working on task-specific skills.
- More recently, computer technology.

14. Thank you