Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...

Lateralization

Lateralization

Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.

Brain Imaging

Brain Imaging

Brain imaging technologies provide critical insights into both the structure and function of the human brain, enabling medical professionals and researchers to diagnose, study, and treat neurological disorders or psychiatric disorders more effectively.
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).

Language and Cognition

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.

Components of Language

Components of Language

Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs. “eh”). Phonemes combine to...

Imaging Studies IV: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Imaging Studies IV: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Introduction:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, can include a specialized imaging technique of the urinary system known as Magnetic Resonance Urography (MRU). This radiation-free technique uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images with the help of a computer. MRU is particularly effective for visualizing fluid-filled structures like the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.Applications of MRI in the Genitourinary SystemKidneys and Ureters: MRI detects tumors, cysts,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Brain Aging in Specific Phobia: An ENIGMA-Anxiety Mega-Analysis.

Human brain mapping·2026

Same author

Brain-structural differences underlying dialect competence in the bilingual network.

Scientific reports·2026

Same author

Functional Outcome Prediction in Young Adults With Mental Health Symptoms Using Machine Learning and Large Language Models: Longitudinal Observational Study.

JMIR mental health·2026

Same author

Distinguishing Chronic and Non-Chronic Depression: A Clinical Profile and Symptom Networks Approach.

Psychotherapy and psychosomatics·2026

Same author

Childhood maltreatment is linked to transdiagnostic age- and sex-specific cortical thinning and reduced amygdalar volume in young adults.

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology·2026

Same author

Associations between CRP-related DNA methylation, stress exposure, and depression severity in a longitudinal clinical cohort.

Brain, behavior, and immunity·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Observing Virtual Social Interactions

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Observing Virtual Social Interactions

Published on: July 6, 2011

Structural correlates of functional language dominance: a voxel-based morphometry study.

Andreas Jansen¹, Gianpiero Liuzzi¹, Michael Deppe¹

¹Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany (AJ, GL, MD, CO, JMA, SK); Department of Neurology II, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany (MK); Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (GS); IZKF Münster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany (SK); Section of Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry und Psychotherapy, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany (AJ).

Journal of Neuroimaging : Official Journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging

|May 21, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Brain structure differs based on language dominance. Right-hemisphere dominance is linked to a larger right hippocampus, challenging theories about the planum temporale (PT) in language lateralization.

More Related Videos

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance

Published on: May 7, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Observing Virtual Social Interactions

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Observing Virtual Social Interactions

Published on: July 6, 2011

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance

Published on: May 7, 2014

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
Neuroimaging

Background:

Understanding the neural basis of language lateralization is crucial for cognitive neuroscience.
Previous research often focused on specific brain regions like the planum temporale (PT).

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the brain structural differences associated with left- versus right-hemisphere language dominance.
To explore the relationship between brain morphology and functional language lateralization.

Main Methods:

Utilized voxel-based morphometry on high-resolution T1-weighted MRI scans.
Compared brain gray matter volume in healthy individuals with established left- and right-hemisphere language dominance.
Included twenty participants selected from a cohort with known language lateralization.

Main Results:

Individuals with right-hemisphere language dominance exhibited significantly larger gray matter volume in the right hippocampus compared to those with left-hemisphere dominance.
Both groups displayed leftward structural asymmetries in the posterior superior temporal cortex, including the planum temporale (PT).

Conclusions:

Findings suggest that planum temporale (PT) asymmetries may not be directly correlated with functional language lateralization.
The hippocampus and medial temporal lobe play a significant role in the neural language network.
The hippocampus's role in the development of language lateralization is highlighted.