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

Lateralization01:28

Lateralization

294
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.
294
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

702
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...
702
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

303
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.
303
Cerebral Hemispheres01:05

Cerebral Hemispheres

266
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...
266
Lobes of the Cerebrum01:22

Lobes of the Cerebrum

484
The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements....
484
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

4.8K
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,...
4.8K

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

Grounding the computational principles of language in neurobiology requires cross-modal and cross-linguistic data.

Cognitive neuroscience·2025
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 journal

Preface.

Handbook of clinical neurology·2026
Same journal

Foreword.

Handbook of clinical neurology·2026
Same journal

Fundus autofluorescence imaging.

Handbook of clinical neurology·2026
Same journal

The electroretinogram as a means to study the physiology of the retina.

Handbook of clinical neurology·2026
Same journal

Adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy.

Handbook of clinical neurology·2026
Same journal

Modeling the human retina in a dish: Advances and future directions.

Handbook of clinical neurology·2026
See all related articles
  1. Home
  3. Functional And Structural Brain Asymmetries In Language Processing.
  1. Home
  3. Functional And Structural Brain Asymmetries In Language Processing.

Related Experiment Video

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping
13:12

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

44.9K

Functional and structural brain asymmetries in language processing.

Patrick C Trettenbrein1, Angela D Friederici2

  • 1Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; International Max Planck Research School on Neuroscience of Communication: Structure, Function, and Plasticity (IMPRS NeuroCom), Leipzig, Germany; Experimental Sign Language Laboratory (SignLab), Department of German Philology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.

Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|March 12, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Language processing shows left hemisphere dominance but also some bilateral function, particularly for meaning and sound. A core left-hemisphere network is crucial for syntax, supporting language evolution.

Keywords:
Brain developmentLanguage networkLateralizationNeurobiology of languageNeurolinguisticsSentence processingSyntax

More Related Videos

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice
07:03

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Published on: July 31, 2019

6.7K
Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans
08:29

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Published on: December 18, 2016

13.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping
13:12

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

44.9K
Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice
07:03

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Published on: July 31, 2019

6.7K
Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans
08:29

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Published on: December 18, 2016

13.9K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Linguistics

Background:

  • Language lateralization to the left hemisphere is a classic example of biological asymmetry.
  • Damage to the left hemisphere does not result in complete language loss, suggesting complex neural organization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review functional and structural lateralization of neural substrates for various language aspects.
  • To explore the equipotentiality of both hemispheres in language processing.

Main Methods:

  • Review of neuroimaging research findings over recent decades.
  • Analysis of functional and structural asymmetries in language networks.

Main Results:

  • Most language processing aspects are functionally lateralized to the left hemisphere in adults.
  • Both hemispheres show equipotentiality for processing meaning and sound.
  • A core language network in the left hemisphere is critical for syntax and shows functional/structural asymmetry.

    • Conclusions:

    • Language capacity and its neural basis are not monolithic.
    • The left-hemisphere core language network, vital for syntax, is genetically influenced and may be a prerequisite for human language evolution.