Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

4.1K
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...
4.1K
Lateralization01:28

Lateralization

1.3K
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.
1.3K
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

977
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.
977
Cerebral Hemispheres01:05

Cerebral Hemispheres

3.6K
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...
3.6K
Language Development01:22

Language Development

1.1K
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...
1.1K
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

10.6K
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,...
10.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Grammar acquisition in preschool children is related to white matter maturation of the dorsal language network.

Developmental cognitive neuroscience·2026
Same author

The coming decade of digital brain research: A vision for neuroscience at the intersection of technology and computing.

Imaging neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)·2025
Same author

Assessing quantitative MRI techniques using multimodal comparisons.

PloS one·2025
Same author

Versatile use of chimpanzee call combinations promotes meaning expansion.

Science advances·2025
Same author

Characterizing Directional Dynamics of Semantic Prediction Based on Inter-regional Temporal Generalization.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2025
Same author

Functional and structural brain asymmetries in language processing.

Handbook of clinical neurology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 4, 2026

Examining Online Syntactic Processing of Spoken Complex Sentences in Chinese Using Dual-Modal Interference Tasks
08:32

Examining Online Syntactic Processing of Spoken Complex Sentences in Chinese Using Dual-Modal Interference Tasks

Published on: September 5, 2019

6.0K

Development of a selective left-hemispheric fronto-temporal network for processing syntactic complexity in language

Yaqiong Xiao1, Angela D Friederici1, Daniel S Margulies2

  • 1Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.

Neuropsychologia
|September 10, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Preschoolers

Keywords:
Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuationFunctional connectivityLanguage developmentResting-state fMRISyntactic complexity

More Related Videos

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism
06:15

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism

Published on: October 3, 2018

8.3K
Dissociation of the Confounding Influences of Expectancy and Integrative Difficulty Residing in Anomalous Sentences in Event-related Potential Studies
05:22

Dissociation of the Confounding Influences of Expectancy and Integrative Difficulty Residing in Anomalous Sentences in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: May 9, 2019

5.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 4, 2026

Examining Online Syntactic Processing of Spoken Complex Sentences in Chinese Using Dual-Modal Interference Tasks
08:32

Examining Online Syntactic Processing of Spoken Complex Sentences in Chinese Using Dual-Modal Interference Tasks

Published on: September 5, 2019

6.0K
Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism
06:15

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism

Published on: October 3, 2018

8.3K
Dissociation of the Confounding Influences of Expectancy and Integrative Difficulty Residing in Anomalous Sentences in Event-related Potential Studies
05:22

Dissociation of the Confounding Influences of Expectancy and Integrative Difficulty Residing in Anomalous Sentences in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: May 9, 2019

5.8K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Linguistics

Background:

  • Childhood language comprehension develops with brain maturation, particularly for complex syntax.
  • Left perisylvian fronto-temporal connections, crucial for complex syntax, may be immature in preschoolers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate brain functional development in language comprehension.
  • Examine resting-state functional connectivity in 5-year-olds and adults.
  • Correlate brain connectivity with syntactic comprehension performance.

Main Methods:

  • Acquired resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from children and adults.
  • Analyzed amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations to identify language-region networks.
  • Administered behavioral syntactic comprehension tests to children.

Main Results:

  • Adults showed left intrahemispheric IFG-pSTS correlation; children predominantly showed left-right IFG interhemispheric correlation.
  • In 5-year-olds, local IFG connectivity correlated with simple sentence processing.
  • Left fronto-temporal connectivity correlated with complex non-canonical sentence processing.

Conclusions:

  • A selective left fronto-temporal network for complex syntax processing is functionally connected by age 5.
  • Intrinsic functional connectivity is related to syntactic language abilities in preschoolers.
  • Developmental data reveal early functional networks supporting complex language skills.