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Related Concept Videos

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

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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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Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

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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.
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Language01:16

Language

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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...
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Lateralization01:28

Lateralization

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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.
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Components of Language01:24

Components of Language

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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.
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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping
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Brain structural networks underlying language.

Angela Dorkas Friederici1

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

Physiological Reviews
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PubMed
Summary
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The human brain

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Linguistics

Background:

  • Complex language processing involves interconnected brain regions in the inferior frontal and posterior temporal cortex.
  • White matter tracts facilitate information transfer, forming the structural basis of language networks.
  • Brain imaging studies reveal the plasticity of these structural networks, influenced by language learning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural brain networks underlying language processing.
  • To explore how language acquisition and bilingualism modulate these networks.
  • To understand the evolutionary basis and domain specificity of the human language system.

Main Methods:

  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of white matter brain networks.
  • Comparative analysis of monolingual, bilingual, and sign language users.
  • Examination of developmental changes in language networks.

Main Results:

  • Language learning in childhood strengthens connectivity within the core language network.
  • Native language properties modulate the adult brain's language network structure.
  • Bilingualism and second language acquisition lead to distinct brain connectivity patterns.

Conclusions:

  • The human language network is shaped by linguistic experience and shows significant plasticity.
  • The core language system is distinct from sensory-motor systems, with evolutionary underpinnings.
  • Understanding this network is crucial for cognitive development and disorders.