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This fMRI study found that simpler language structures, like small clauses, activated fewer brain regions associated with modern syntax, suggesting they are remnants of early language evolution.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Linguistics
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • The evolution-of-syntax framework proposes that some linguistic structures are evolutionary "fossils" from a non-hierarchical proto-language stage.
  • Modern hierarchical syntactic structures are thought to be supported by specific brain networks, including Broca's area and basal ganglia, which have undergone significant evolution in humans.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the evolution-of-syntax framework using fMRI.
  • To investigate the neural processing differences between "fossil" (non-hierarchical) and modern (hierarchical) syntactic structures.

Main Methods:

  • fMRI scans were performed on 14 healthy adults.
  • Participants viewed written stimuli including full sentences, small clauses, complex compounds, and simple compounds.
  • Brain activation patterns were compared across different structure types.

Main Results:

  • Processing small clauses (non-hierarchical) led to reduced activation in left Broca's area (BA 44) and right basal ganglia compared to full sentences.
  • Processing simple compounds (non-hierarchical) increased activation in the inferior temporal gyrus and fusiform gyrus (BA 37/19) compared to complex compounds.
  • These areas are associated with visual and semantic processing, not typically considered core syntactic regions.

Conclusions:

  • Findings support the evolution-of-syntax framework by showing distinct neural processing for hypothesized "fossil" structures.
  • Reduced activation in core syntactic areas for simpler structures suggests they rely on older or different neural mechanisms.
  • The results contribute to understanding the co-evolution of language and the human brain.