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Language

Language

Language is a unique communication system that uses words and systematic rules to organize and transmit information. Unlike other forms of communication, which may involve postures, movements, odors, or vocalizations, language relies on symbols and grammar. This makes human communication distinct from that of other species, who also communicate but do not use language in the same way humans do.
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...

Components of Language

Components of Language

Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs.

Language Development

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...

Language and Cognition

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: Language

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...

Group Design

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The most basic experimental design involves two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The two groups are designed to be the same except for one difference— experimental manipulation. The experimental group gets the experimental manipulation—that is, the treatment or variable being tested—and the control group does not. Since experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, we can be sure that any differences between...

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Related Experiment Video

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Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting

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Published on: June 6, 2020

Toward the Language Oscillogenome.

Elliot Murphy^1,2, Antonio Benítez-Burraco³

¹Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom.

Frontiers in Psychology

|November 9, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Neural oscillations, or the brain's "oscillome," are key to language processing. Candidate genes, the "oscillogenome," may guide these brain rhythms, linking genetics to language evolution.

Keywords:

autism spectrum disorders candidate genes dyslexia language deficits neural oscillations schizophrenia specific language impairment

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Genetics
Linguistics

Background:

Language evolution and processing are linked to specific brain wiring patterns.
Neural oscillations, termed the 'language oscillome,' exhibit specific phasal and cross-frequency coupling properties crucial for language.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose the concept of the 'oscillogenome' as the genetic basis for the language oscillome.
To identify candidate genes influencing brain rhythmicity in language disorders.
To establish hypotheses linking genome to language processing and evolution via brain rhythms.

Main Methods:

Reviewing genes associated with altered brain rhythmicity in conditions affecting language (autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, specific language impairment, dyslexia).
Analyzing the mapping of these genes to brain functions, particularly neurotransmitter systems.

Main Results:

Identified candidate genes potentially contributing to the language oscillome.
These genes are linked to neurotransmitter functions relevant to brain rhythmicity.

Conclusions:

The 'oscillogenome' concept provides a framework for understanding the genetic underpinnings of the language oscillome.
Further research is needed to validate these genome-to-language linking hypotheses and understand the role of brain rhythms in language evolution.
Caution is advised due to the complex roles of specific brain frequency bands in cognition.