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Related Concept Videos

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.
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...
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.
Language Development01:22

Language Development

Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
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...
Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans
08:29

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Published on: December 18, 2016

Cerebral asymmetry and language development: cause, correlate, or consequence?

Dorothy V M Bishop1

  • 1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, 9 South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK. dorothy.bishop@psy.ox.ac.uk

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 15, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Brain lateralization, the brain

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Language processing is typically left-hemisphere dominant, but the reasons are unclear.
  • Developmental language disorders are often linked to atypical brain lateralization, though evidence was historically weak.
  • Modern neuroimaging allows detailed study of brain lateralization during development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between cerebral lateralization and developmental language and literacy impairments.
  • To explore the origins and stability of brain lateralization, particularly in relation to language development.
  • To re-evaluate the concept of cerebral asymmetry considering its multidimensionality and developmental trajectory.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized modern neuroimaging techniques to examine brain lateralization in developing individuals.

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Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations
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Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations

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Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans
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Assessment of Cerebral Lateralization in Children using Functional Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound (fTCD)
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Assessment of Cerebral Lateralization in Children using Functional Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound (fTCD)

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  • Analyzed the association between patterns of cerebral lateralization and language/literacy skills.
  • Assessed the heritability and stability of cerebral lateralization over developmental time.

    • Main Results:

    • Confirmed links between atypical cerebral lateralization and language/literacy impairments using neuroimaging.
    • Found limited evidence for common genetic origins between weak cerebral lateralization and these impairments.
    • Challenged the view of cerebral lateralization as a stable, highly heritable trait.

    Conclusions:

    • Atypical language lateralization is associated with language and literacy impairments.
    • Weak cerebral lateralization may not share common genetic bases with language disorders.
    • Cerebral lateralization might be a consequence of impaired language learning rather than a stable, inherited trait.