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Related Concept Videos

Lateralization01:28

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.
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

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...
Language and Cognition01:27

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.
Cerebral Hemispheres01:05

Cerebral Hemispheres

The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
Lobes of the Cerebrum01:22

Lobes of the Cerebrum

The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice
07:03

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Published on: July 31, 2019

Predicting language lateralization from gray matter.

Goulven Josse1, Ferath Kherif, Guillaume Flandin

  • 1Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL, London, United Kingdom. goulvenjosse@gmail.com.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|October 30, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Brain anatomy reflects language lateralization. Gray matter density lateralization positively correlates with language lateralization, allowing prediction from structural scans in healthy brains.

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Assessment of Cerebral Lateralization in Children using Functional Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound (fTCD)
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Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping
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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

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07:03

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Published on: July 31, 2019

Assessment of Cerebral Lateralization in Children using Functional Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound (fTCD)
07:44

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Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping
13:12

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

Published on: August 12, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Neuroanatomy

Background:

  • Language lateralization, the dominance of one brain hemisphere for language processing, is a fundamental aspect of brain organization.
  • Previous research suggested a link between brain structure and language lateralization, but direct evidence across the whole brain was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between brain structural asymmetry and language lateralization.
  • To determine if structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can predict language lateralization on a voxel-by-voxel basis.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized structural and functional MRI from 86 healthy participants.
  • Converted structural images to gray matter probability maps.
  • Assessed language activation during naming and semantic decision tasks.
  • Generated lateralization images by voxel-wise subtraction of right from left hemisphere signals.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated a significant positive correlation between the degree of language lateralization and gray matter density lateralization across the whole brain.
  • Post hoc analyses revealed a consistent relationship between gray matter probability and blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first evidence that structural brain scans can predict language lateralization at a fine-grained, voxel-by-voxel level in healthy individuals.
  • Findings support the hypothesis that underlying brain anatomy directly reflects the degree of hemispheric specialization for language.