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Hierarchical processing in music, language, and action: Lashley revisited
W Tecumseh Fitch1, Mauricio D Martins
1Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|April 5, 2014
Summary
Karl Lashley's "syntax of action" theory is supported by modern neuroscience. Research indicates the lateral premotor cortex, including Broca's area, is crucial for hierarchical processing in language, music, and action sequences.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
Background:
- Karl Lashley proposed a
- syntax of action
- 60 years ago to explain complex behaviors like language and music.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review modern data on action processing in relation to Lashley's hypotheses.
- To investigate the neural basis of hierarchical action sequencing.
Main Methods:
- Review of diverse modern experimental data.
- Neuroanatomical analysis of brain regions involved in action, language, and music processing.
Main Results:
- Modern data largely supports an updated neuroanatomical version of Lashley's hypotheses.
- The lateral premotor cortex, including Broca's area, is vital for hierarchical processing across domains.
- Evidence aligns with Lashley's concept of a working-memory buffer in prefrontal regions.
Conclusions:
- Lashley's concept of a "syntax of action" is relevant to understanding complex neural functions.
- The lateral premotor cortex plays a key role in hierarchical sequencing in humans.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the computational role of prefrontal regions in action syntax.
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