Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
07:03
Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice
Published on: July 31, 2019
Theoretical Considerations for Understanding "Understanding" by Adults With Right Hemisphere Brain Damage
1Department of Communication Science and Disorders and Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Perspectives on Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders
|September 28, 2011
Summary
Adults with right cerebral hemisphere (RHD) damage show narrative comprehension deficits. This review explores how RHD affects comprehension by examining models of information processing and specific deficit theories.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Linguistics
Background:
- Narrative comprehension involves complex representational levels.
- Comprehension includes broad activation and context-based pruning of meaning.
- Right cerebral hemisphere (RHD) damage can impact these processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review and evaluate theories of narrative comprehension deficits in RHD.
- Examine the effects of RHD on distinct phases of comprehension processing.
- Propose a reconciliation of competing RHD deficit accounts.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of models of comprehension.
- Analysis of RHD effects on specific cognitive functions (e.g., inferencing, suppression).
- Evaluation of coarse coding and suppression deficit theories.
Main Results:
- RHD may affect both broad activation and context-based pruning phases of comprehension.
- Specific deficits in RHD include difficulties with inferencing and suppressing irrelevant information.
- Coarse coding and suppression deficit theories may be reconciled by considering comprehension phases.
Conclusions:
- Understanding RHD's impact on comprehension requires considering different processing phases.
- Future research on contextual constraint and literal/nonliteral language is crucial for clinical applications.
- Reconciling deficit theories offers a more nuanced view of RHD comprehension impairments.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Lateralization
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.
01:05Cerebral 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...
01:10Higher 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 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...
01:27Language 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.
01:24Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition
A revisionist approach to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development has brought new insights that challenge and reinterpret his established ideas. Piaget proposed that the formal operational stage, emerging in adolescence, represents the culmination of cognitive maturity. During this stage, individuals are said to develop abstract thinking, engage in systematic problem-solving, and show a form of egocentrism, believing others are as preoccupied with their behavior as they are themselves.
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...