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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...
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Cerebral Hemispheres01:05

Cerebral Hemispheres

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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...
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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

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Updated: May 22, 2025

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Functional and structural brain asymmetries in sign language processing.

Patrick C Trettenbrein1, Emiliano Zaccarella2, 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
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sign language processing in the brain largely mirrors spoken language, with the left hemisphere dominant. However, the right hemisphere plays a unique role in processing signed language features, highlighting brain plasticity.

Keywords:
Language networkLateralizationModality of language useModality-independenceNeurobiology of languageSign languageSign language processing

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Linguistics
  • Neurobiology

Background:

  • Language is a defining human trait, not limited to speech.
  • Sign languages are natural languages used by deaf communities, relying on visual-gestural modalities.
  • Neuroimaging studies investigate the brain basis of sign language.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the neural substrates of sign language processing.
  • To examine functional and structural brain organization in sign language.
  • To compare sign language processing with spoken/written language in the brain.

Main Methods:

  • Review of neuroimaging research findings.
  • Analysis of functional and structural brain organization.
  • Comparison of left and right hemisphere involvement in sign language.

Main Results:

  • Sign language processing is predominantly left-lateralized, similar to spoken language.
  • The right hemisphere shows equipotentiality and supports unique signed modality constructions.
  • A core language network in the left hemisphere is crucial for complex syntax, independent of modality.

Conclusions:

  • The human brain exhibits remarkable plasticity in language processing across modalities.
  • The left-hemisphere core language network is fundamental for complex syntax, suggesting evolutionary significance.
  • Understanding sign language neural bases offers insights into the evolution of human language capacity.