大猿类的不对称布罗卡面积
1Division of Psychobiology and Living Links Center, Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. lrcbh@rmy.emory.edu
Nature
|December 6, 2001
概括
大猿在一个关键的语言区域与人类分享大脑不对称性. 这表明,语言主导的神经基础早于人类进化,并不是我们物种特有的.
科学领域:
- 神经科学是一个神经科学.
- 比较解剖学的比较解剖学
- 进化生物学 进化生物学
背景情况:
- 布罗德曼区域44是布罗卡区域的一部分,位于下额头,对于语音产生至关重要.
- 在人类中,这个区域表现出左半球的优势,这与语言横向化有关.
- 了解这种不对称的进化起源是理解语言进化的关键.
研究的目的:
- 为了调查在人类Brodmann的区域44中观察到的左半球不对称性是否存在于其他类人猿物种中.
- 探索与语音产生相关的大脑横向化的进化时间线.
主要方法:
- 在黑猩猩 (Pan troglodytes),猩猩 (Pan paniscus) 和大猩猩 (Gorilla gorilla) 中对Brodmann的44区域进行比较分析.
- 评估研究物种中这个特定的大脑区域半球大小差异的评估.
主要成果:
- 在Brodmann的区域44中,在所有三种研究的大猿物种中都发现了类似的左半球主导地位.
- 这种解剖学不对称性反映了在人类中观察到的模式.
结论:
- 在发言过程中左半球占主导地位的神经解剖学基质至少在500万年前就已经存在.
- 这些发现表明,这种不对称性并不仅限于人类进化,而且可能有更深的进化根源.
相关概念视频
Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions
The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It consists of four main parts: the cerebrum, diencephalon, cerebellum, and brainstem.
The cerebrum is the largest section of the brain and divides into left and right hemispheres, separated by a deep fissure. The cerebral outer layer of grey matter — the cerebral cortex — comprises elevations called gyri and shallow groves called sulci. The inner portion of white matter includes long nerve fibers known as axons, which connect various areas...
The cerebrum is the largest section of the brain and divides into left and right hemispheres, separated by a deep fissure. The cerebral outer layer of grey matter — the cerebral cortex — comprises elevations called gyri and shallow groves called sulci. The inner portion of white matter includes long nerve fibers known as axons, which connect various areas...
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Association Areas of the Cortex
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,...
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,...
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
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...
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...
Cerebral Hemispheres
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...
Lateralization
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.


