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Linguistic perception: neural processing of a whistled language
Manuel Carreiras1, Jorge Lopez, Francisco Rivero
1Departamento de Psicología Cognitiva, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, 38205, Spain. mcarreir@ull.es
Nature
|January 7, 2005
Summary
Silbo Gomero, a whistled language, activates spoken language brain areas in proficient users. This demonstrates the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Linguistics
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Silbo Gomero is an endangered whistled language from La Gomera, Canary Islands.
- It evolved as a means of long-distance communication in challenging terrain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural basis of processing Silbo Gomero.
- To determine if whistled language processing engages typical spoken language brain regions.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used.
- Brain activity was measured in proficient Silbo Gomero whistlers and control participants.
- Participants listened to recordings of Silbo Gomero.
Main Results:
- Proficient whistlers showed activation in brain areas typically associated with spoken language.
- Control participants did not exhibit similar activation patterns.
- This suggests specialized neural processing for whistled language.
Conclusions:
- The human brain's language-processing regions are adaptable to diverse signaling forms.
- Whistled languages like Silbo Gomero utilize neural substrates similar to spoken languages.
- This research highlights the brain's plasticity in language acquisition and processing.
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