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Related Concept Videos

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...
Neurons as Communicators of the Brain01:22

Neurons as Communicators of the Brain

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, function as the primary transmitters of information throughout the body. Their ability to communicate through electrical and chemical signals is vital for every bodily function, from regulating the heartbeat to processing complex thoughts. Each neuron has three main components: the cell body (soma), dendrites, and an axon, each specialized to facilitate swift and efficient neural communication.
Cell Body
The cell body, also known...
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.
Neuronal Communication01:28

Neuronal Communication

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, communicate through complex electrochemical signals that underpin all cognitive and bodily functions. This communication is primarily facilitated by a process involving the generation and propagation of an action potential along the axon of the neuron. When the internal electrical charge of a neuron surpasses a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This rapid change in voltage travels swiftly along the axon to the...
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...
Organization of the Brain01:30

Organization of the Brain

The brain is an integral component of the nervous system and serves as the center for processing sensory inputs, making decisions, and directing bodily actions. This complex organ is organized into three primary sections: the hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain, each responsible for a range of vital functions.
Hindbrain
The hindbrain, located at the base of the brain, plays a vital role in regulating automatic processes that sustain life. It includes the medulla oblongata, which is essential for...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

The TD Drive: A Parametric, Open-Source Implant for Multi&#45;Area Electrophysiological Recordings in Behaving and Sleeping Rats
08:51

The TD Drive: A Parametric, Open-Source Implant for Multi-Area Electrophysiological Recordings in Behaving and Sleeping Rats

Published on: April 26, 2024

Write to read: the brain's universal reading and writing network.

Charles A Perfetti1, Li-Hai Tan

  • 1Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA. perfetti@pitt.edu

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|January 30, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Reading handwritten words activates a common pre-motor brain area, suggesting the brain

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Linguistics

Background:

  • The human brain's reading network is shaped by the diversity of writing systems.
  • It remains debated whether this network is universal or adaptable to variations in orthography.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if the brain's reading network exhibits universal characteristics across different writing systems.
  • To explore the neural basis of reading across diverse orthographic structures.

Main Methods:

  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to observe brain activity.
  • Participants read handwritten words from different writing systems.

Main Results:

  • Activation of a common pre-motor area was observed during the reading of handwritten words.

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3D Scanning Technology Bridging Microcircuits and Macroscale Brain Images in 3D Novel Embedding Overlapping Protocol
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3D Scanning Technology Bridging Microcircuits and Macroscale Brain Images in 3D Novel Embedding Overlapping Protocol

Published on: May 12, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 14, 2026

The TD Drive: A Parametric, Open-Source Implant for Multi&#45;Area Electrophysiological Recordings in Behaving and Sleeping Rats
08:51

The TD Drive: A Parametric, Open-Source Implant for Multi-Area Electrophysiological Recordings in Behaving and Sleeping Rats

Published on: April 26, 2024

3D Scanning Technology Bridging Microcircuits and Macroscale Brain Images in 3D Novel Embedding Overlapping Protocol
10:14

3D Scanning Technology Bridging Microcircuits and Macroscale Brain Images in 3D Novel Embedding Overlapping Protocol

Published on: May 12, 2019

  • This finding was consistent across participants using different writing systems.

    • Conclusions:

    • The study provides evidence for a universal component in the brain's reading network.
    • A shared pre-motor region involved in reading suggests a fundamental neural mechanism underlying word processing regardless of writing system.