Language Flashcards
What is communication?
The transmission of information between individuals
What is language?
A system for representing and communicating information that uses words combined according to grammatical rules
Unique to humans
What is speech?
An audible form of communication built on the sounds humans produce
What is aphasia?
Partial or complete loss of the ability to comprehend and/or produce language as a means of communicating meaningful statements
What is a Wada test?
It is used to determine hemisphere dominant for speech (left)
By injecting short-acting anaesthetic into the carotid artery
Which hemisphere is usually the language area found?
Left hemisphere
What is Broca’s area?
It is for speech production
What is Broca’s aphasia?
Person has difficulty speaking even though he can understand language heard or read
Good comprehension
Speech is telegraphic in style
What is telegraphic speech?
Spontaneously speaking, very effortful
What is speech apraxia?
Difficulty with motor coordination of speech
What is agrammatic aphasia?
Comprehension deficits related to syntax
What is Wernicke’s area?
It is for comprehension & semantics
What is Wernicke’s aphasia?
Speech is fluent
Person has no difficulty speaking but can not understand language heard or read
Poor comprehension
Speech content doesn’t make sense
What is the process of the Wernicke-Geschwind model for language processing when repeating a spoken word?
Spoken word gets to ear> sends information to the auditory cortex> projects to Wernicke’s area, which processes sounds>arcuate fasciculus (axons that project to Broca’s area)> Broca’s area (speech production)> Motor cortex> motor muscles move
What is the process of the Wernicke-Geschwind model for language processing when reading a written word aloud?
Visual signals from the eye> sends information to the primary visual cortex, V1> projects to angular gyrus (transforms the visual signal to the same pattern of activity to Wernicke’s area as if words were spoken)> projects to Wernicke’s area>arcuate fasciculus (axons that project to Broca’s area)> Broca’s area (speech production)> Motor cortex> motor muscles move
What is conduction aphasia?
It is a lesion in path from Wernicke’s area to Broca’s area (usually arcuate fasciculus)
Comprehension is good, and speech is fluent
Difficulty in repeating words and phrases that are heard or read
What are the limitations of Wernicke-Geschwind model for language processing?
Words rad can don’t have to go through Wernicke’s area
Most aphasias involve both comprehension and speech deficits
Simplified and has some errors
What are split-brain patients?
When you cut the corpus callosum on a patient, which connects the two hemispheres of the brain meaning no communication between the hemispheres
