Language, tools and brain: The ontogeny and phylogeny of hierarchically organized sequential behavior

1991 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia M. Greenfield
Keyword(s):  
Tool Use ◽  
Language Production ◽  
Neural Circuits ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Hierarchical Organization ◽  
Broca’S Area ◽  
Broca's Area ◽  
Evolution Of Language ◽  
Hierarchical Complexity ◽  
Neural Substrate

AbstractDuring the first two years of human life a common neural substrate (roughly Broca's area) underlies the hierarchical organization of elements in the development of speech as well as the capacity to combine objects manually, including tool use. Subsequent cortical differentiation, beginning at age two, creates distinct, relatively modularized capacities for linguistic grammar and more complex combination of objects. An evolutionary homologue of the neural substrate for language production and manual action is hypothesized to have provided a foundation for the evolution of language before the divergence of the hominids and the great apes. Support comes from the discovery of a Broca's area homologue and related neural circuits in contemporary primates. In addition, chimpanzees have an identical constraint on hierarchical complexity in both tool use and symbol combination. Their performance matches that of the two-year-old child who has not yet developed the neural circuits for complex grammar and complex manual combination of objects.

ISLAMIC VALUES ENCOUNTERED IN HUMAN LANGUAGE PRODUCTION AND COMPREHENSION AS A MENTAL PROCESS

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-185
Author(s):  
Nurlaila Nurlaila
Keyword(s):  
Language Production ◽  
Angular Gyrus ◽  
Broca’S Area ◽  
Mental Process ◽  
Human Language ◽  
Broca's Area ◽  
Left Brain ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Islamic Values

This study concerned mainly on the islamic values encountered in human language production and comprehension as a mental process. The production of language of human being positioned in  Broca’s area and comprehension of language is located in Wernike’s area which are located in human left brain. The process of language in human brain is very abstract; it could not be directly seen by naked eyes. It was done by activating some features of the brain such as Broca’s area, Wernike’s area, angular gyrus, motor cortex, etc. Based on psycholinguistics theory, ability to speak or produce meaningful sounds were innate in human. Its meant that human were genetically predisposed to learn and use language. The phenomenon were closely related to islamics values that those facts specifically and delibrately created by God; the Almighty Allah with certain purposes and that regularity was shown in the nature of thing in the earth. This research aims at investigating the islamic values encountered in human language production and comprehension. This is a descriptive qualitative reasearch that the researcher herself functioned as the key instrument. It was found out that there were several kinds of islamic values found in human language production and comprehension namely social, moral, economical, and religious values.   Key Words: Islamic Value, Language Production and Comprehension, Mental Process

scholarly journals SURG-19. REORGANIZATION OF LANGUAGE ENABLES SAFE RESECTION OF TUMORS IN AND AROUND BROCA’S AREA

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi243-vi243
Author(s):  
Emma Holmes ◽  
Keith Kerr ◽  
Cihan Kadipasaoglu ◽  
Nitin Tandon
Keyword(s):  
Language Production ◽  
Senior Author ◽  
Broca’S Area ◽  
Broca's Area ◽  
Language Mapping ◽  
Pathological Evaluation ◽  
Pars Opercularis ◽  
Grade 3 ◽  
Slow Growing

Abstract INTRODUCTION Since its discovery in the 1800s, Broca’s area has been viewed as a critical node for language production. Previously, pathologies in this area have been considered unresectable due to concern for producing iatrogenic language production deficits. Emerging literature suggests that although acute lesions in this area can cause widespread deficits, slow growing lesions are less correlated with these deficits due to cortical language reorganization. Based on this data, we managed a cohort with Broca’s area lesions with surgical resection using awake intra-operative language mapping. METHODS All 150 awake craniotomies performed by the senior author over a twelve-year period (2006–2017) at a single institution were reviewed. For each patient the imaging was carefully evaluated to localize the neoplasm relative to pars triangularis or pars opercularis in the language dominant hemisphere. Language dominance was confirmed using WADA testing or fMRI. All patients underwent cortical language mapping using a battery of tasks coupled with cortical stimulation. RESULTS A total of 31 surgeries in 29 patients (65.5% male, 86.2% righthanded) were identified. The average age was 41. Patients presented with seizures (64.5%), speech difficulties (35.5%) or headaches (19.4%). A gross or near total resection was achieved in 26/29 (89.7%) of patients. Pathological evaluation revealed grade 2 gliomas (8), grade 3 gliomas (13) and glioblastoma (9). Post-operatively, 8 (25.8%) patients had new or worsening speech deficits, all of which resolved to baseline at follow-up. CONCLUSION Broca’s area lesions can be safely resected in patients using an awake craniotomy technique with language mapping. In our series, the majority of patients had gross or near total resections, few patients had new deficits, and none had permanent new deficits. Considering the increasing evidence in favor of cytoreduction to manage glial neoplasms, this technique should be employed routinely for pathologies in this area to optimize patient outcomes.

On the Neurocognitive Co-Evolution of Tool Behavior and Language: Insights from the Massive Redeployment Framework

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Osiurak ◽  
Caroline Crétel ◽  
Natalie Uomini ◽  
Chloé Bryche ◽  
Mathieu Lesourd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Frontal Lobe ◽  
Tool Use ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Parietal Lobe ◽  
Brain Area ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Broca’S Area ◽  
Broca's Area ◽  
Inferior Parietal Lobe

Understanding the link between brain evolution and the evolution of distinctive features of modern human cognition is a fundamental challenge. A still unresolved question concerns the co-evolution of tool behavior (i.e., tool use or tool making) and language. The shared neurocognitive processes hypothesis suggests that the emergence of the combinatorial component of language skills within the frontal lobe/Broca’s area made possible the complexification of tool-making skills. The importance of frontal lobe/Broca’s area in tool behavior is somewhat surprising with regard to the literature on neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience, which has instead stressed the critical role of the left inferior parietal lobe. Therefore, to be complete, any version of the shared neurocognitive processes hypothesis needs to integrate the potential interactions between the frontal lobe/Broca’s area and the left inferior parietal lobe as well as their co-evolution at a phylogenetic level. Here we sought to provide first elements of answer through the use of the massive deployment framework, which posits that evolutionarily older brain areas are deployed in more cognitive functions (i.e., they are less specific). We focused on the left parietal cortex, and particularly the left areas PF, PGI, and AIP, which are known to be involved in tool use, language, and motor control, respectively. The deployment of each brain area in different cognitive functions was measured by conducting a meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies. Our results confirmed the pattern of specificity for each brain area and also showed that the left area PGI was far less specific than the left areas PF and AIP. From these findings, we discuss the different evolutionary scenarios depicting the potential co-evolution of the combinatorial and generative components of language and tool behavior in our lineage.

The temporal cortex

2020 ◽  
pp. 253-259
Author(s):  
Edmund T. Rolls
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Lobe ◽  
Language Production ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Temporal Cortex ◽  
Visual Object ◽  
Broca’S Area ◽  
Semantic Representations ◽  
Broca's Area ◽  
Anterior Temporal Lobe ◽  
Face Expression

The inferior and middle temporal gyri are involved visual object recognition, with the more dorsal areas involved in face expression, gesture, and motion representation that is useful in social behaviour. The superior temporal cortex is involved in auditory processing. The anterior temporal lobe is involved in semantic representations, for example information about objects, people, and places. Network mechanisms involved in semantic representations are described. The output of this system reaches the inferior frontal gyrus, which on the left is Broca’s area, involved in language production. The concept that the semantics for language are computed in the anterior temporal lobe, and communicates with Broca’s area for speech production, is introduced.

scholarly journals Quantitative Analysis of Agrammatism in Agrammatic Primary Progressive Aphasia and Dominant Apraxia of Speech

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
pp. 2337-2346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katerina A. Tetzloff ◽  
Rene L. Utianski ◽  
Joseph R. Duffy ◽  
Heather M. Clark ◽  
Edythe A. Strand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Language Production ◽  
Primary Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Broca’S Area ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Broca's Area ◽  
Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Primary Progressive ◽  
Semantic Errors ◽  
Description Task ◽  
Mean Length Of Utterance

Purpose The aims of the study were to assess and compare grammatical deficits in written and spoken language production in subjects with agrammatic primary progressive aphasia (agPPA) and in subjects with agrammatism in the context of dominant apraxia of speech (DAOS) and to investigate neuroanatomical correlates. Method Eight agPPA and 21 DAOS subjects performed the picture description task of the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) both in writing and orally. Responses were transcribed and coded for linguistic analysis. agPPA and DAOS were compared to 13 subjects with primary progressive apraxia of speech (PPAOS) who did not have agrammatism. Spearman correlations were performed between the written and spoken variables. Patterns of atrophy in each group were compared, and relationships between the different linguistic measures and integrity of Broca's area were assessed. Results agPPA and DAOS both showed lower mean length of utterance, fewer grammatical utterances, more nonutterances, more syntactic and semantic errors, and fewer complex utterances than PPAOS in writing and speech, as well as fewer correct verbs and nouns in speech. Only verb ratio and proportion of grammatical utterances correlated between modalities. agPPA and DAOS both showed greater involvement of Broca's area than PPAOS, and atrophy of Broca's area correlated with proportion of grammatical and ungrammatical utterances and semantic errors in writing and speech. Conclusions agPPA and DAOS subjects showed similar patterns of agrammatism, although subjects performed differently when speaking versus writing. Integrity of Broca's area correlates with agrammatism.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Syntactic Production and Comprehension

2018 ◽  
pp. 481-505
Author(s):  
Peter Indefrey
Keyword(s):  
Sentence Processing ◽  
Language Production ◽  
Semantic Processing ◽  
Temporal Cortex ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Sentence Production ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Broca’S Area ◽  
Broca's Area ◽  
Functional Components

This chapter deals with the question of whether there is one syntactic system that is shared by language production and comprehension or whether there are two separate systems. It first discusses arguments in favor of one or the other option and then presents the current evidence on the brain structures involved in sentence processing. The results of meta-analyses of numerous neuroimaging studies suggest that there is one system consisting of functionally distinct cortical regions: the dorsal part of Broca’s area subserving compositional syntactic processing; the ventral part of Broca’s area subserving compositional semantic processing; and the left posterior temporal cortex (Wernicke’s area) subserving the retrieval of lexical syntactic and semantic information. Sentence production, the comprehension of simple and complex sentences, and the parsing of sentences containing grammatical violations differ with respect to the recruitment of these functional components.

The hominid tool-language connection: Some missing evolutionary links?

1995 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Maryanski
Keyword(s):  
Tool Use ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Causal Model ◽  
Broca’S Area ◽  
Broca's Area ◽  
Brain Expansion ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThis commentary criticizes Wilkins & Wakefield's thesis that the neurological precursors of language provide a cognitive Rubicon to linguistically divide human from nonhuman primates. A causal model of their theory is presented, followed by a discussion of the relationship between brain expansion and tool use, Broca's area and the parietaloccipital-temporal junction (POT).

scholarly journals Broca's Area and the Hierarchical Organization of Human Behavior

Neuron ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 963-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Etienne Koechlin ◽  
Thomas Jubault
Keyword(s):  
Human Behavior ◽  
Hierarchical Organization ◽  
Broca’S Area ◽  
Broca's Area

scholarly journals The neural and cognitive correlates of aimed throwing in chimpanzees: a magnetic resonance image and behavioural study on a unique form of social tool use

2012 ◽  
Vol 367 (1585) ◽  
pp. 37-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
William D. Hopkins ◽  
Jamie L. Russell ◽  
Jennifer A. Schaeffer
Keyword(s):  
Tool Use ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Precentral Gyrus ◽  
Broca’S Area ◽  
Broca's Area ◽  
Evolutionary Selection ◽  
Cognitive Correlates ◽  
Hominin Evolution ◽  
Aimed Throwing

It has been hypothesized that neurological adaptations associated with evolutionary selection for throwing may have served as a precursor for the emergence of language and speech in early hominins. Although there are reports of individual differences in aimed throwing in wild and captive apes, to date there has not been a single study that has examined the potential neuroanatomical correlates of this very unique tool-use behaviour in non-human primates. In this study, we examined whether differences in the ratio of white (WM) to grey matter (GM) were evident in the homologue to Broca's area as well as the motor-hand area of the precentral gyrus (termed the KNOB) in chimpanzees that reliably throw compared with those that do not. We found that the proportion of WM in Broca's homologue and the KNOB was significantly higher in subjects that reliably throw compared with those that do not. We further found that asymmetries in WM within both brain regions were larger in the hemisphere contralateral to the chimpanzee's preferred throwing hand. We also found that chimpanzees that reliably throw show significantly better communication abilities than chimpanzees that do not. These results suggest that chimpanzees that have learned to throw have developed greater cortical connectivity between primary motor cortex and the Broca's area homologue. It is suggested that during hominin evolution, after the split between the lines leading to chimpanzees and humans, there was intense selection on increased motor skills associated with throwing and that this potentially formed the foundation for left hemisphere specialization associated with language and speech found in modern humans.

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