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Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition
12:49

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition

Published on: July 13, 2019

Cortical theta wanes for language.

Dora Hermes1, Kai J Miller, Mariska J Vansteensel

  • 1Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Section Brain Function and Plasticity, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, USA.

Neuroimage
|July 30, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers explored low-frequency brain rhythms in language processing. They found that theta oscillations in language areas decrease during verb generation, suggesting a dynamic interaction with neural activity similar to alpha rhythms in visual processing.

More Related Videos

Mapping the After-effects of Theta Burst Stimulation on the Human Auditory Cortex with Functional Imaging
10:09

Mapping the After-effects of Theta Burst Stimulation on the Human Auditory Cortex with Functional Imaging

Published on: September 12, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 9, 2026

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition
12:49

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition

Published on: July 13, 2019

Mapping the After-effects of Theta Burst Stimulation on the Human Auditory Cortex with Functional Imaging
10:09

Mapping the After-effects of Theta Burst Stimulation on the Human Auditory Cortex with Functional Imaging

Published on: September 12, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Language Processing

Background:

  • The function of low-frequency brain oscillations in language processing remains unclear.
  • Visual areas exhibit prominent alpha rhythms, potentially linked to pulsed inhibition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate prominent power changes in specific brain rhythms within human language regions.
  • To determine if language areas display distinct oscillatory patterns analogous to the alpha rhythm in visual cortex.

Main Methods:

  • Electrocorticography (ECoG) was used in six human subjects.
  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) localized Broca's area and temporal language regions.
  • Analysis included power changes, amplitude-amplitude correlations, and phase-amplitude coupling of brain rhythms.

Main Results:

  • The theta rhythm showed the most significant power changes in language areas, decreasing during verb generation.
  • Theta power negatively correlated with high-frequency activity during verb generation trials.
  • Phase-amplitude coupling between high-frequency activity and theta phase diminished during verb generation.

Conclusions:

  • Language regions exhibit a pronounced theta rhythm with functional similarities to the alpha rhythm in visual areas.
  • A dynamic interplay exists between theta oscillations and local neuronal activity in language processing.
  • The findings suggest theta rhythm may play a role in language functions, potentially involving inhibition.