[Neurobiology of language processing]

Neurobiological mechanisms underlying language functions can be modeled in the framework of Hebb's cell assembly theory. According to this approach, meaningful words, but not meaningless pseudowords, have a cortical representation in strongly coupled ensembles of neurons distributed over wide cortical areas. Cell assemblies with different cortical topographies can be assumed for different word types. These hypotheses give rise to empirical predictions that can be tested in behavioral and electrophysiological experiments with healthy and neurologically impaired subjects. Results of a series of experiments providing support for the above assumptions are summarized.