Walter Moxon and his thoughts about language and the brain

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• History of Medicine
• Linguistics

Background:

• Walter Moxon's 1866 paper explored aphemia and right-sided hemiplegia.
• Moxon attempted to reconcile left hemisphere speech dominance with the law of symmetry.

Discussion:

• Moxon theorized that the dominant right hand's leading role in limb movement extended to the tongue's articulation.
• He linked left hemisphere dominance for handedness and speech, proposing 'attention' focused on the left hemisphere during motor development.

Key Insights:

• Moxon's work represents an early, albeit flawed, attempt to explain hemispheric lateralization in speech and motor control.
• His theory highlights the historical tension between observed functional asymmetry and the prevailing principle of biological symmetry.

Outlook:

• This paper examines Moxon's life, his 1866 publication, and its limited impact on the history of left hemisphere dominance in speech.
• Further research could explore the historical reception and influence of Moxon's unique perspective on neurolinguistics.