Language and The Brain (A) Flashcards
What are three important issues in relation to language and the brain?
Comparison
Localisation
Lateralisation
What do Nativists argue?
That we have an innate ability to acquire language through a language faculty device.
What is Lenneberg’s (1967) theory?
That in infancy, the relationship between the two parts of the brain is flexible enough for language to relocate itself in the right when necessary.
Early evidence suggested that damage to which side of the brain impaired language in a way that the other did not?
Damage to the left side of the brain impaired language in a way that damage to the right did not.
What does the upper surface of the brain consist of?
‘Grey matter’ lmpwn as the cortex.
What does the cortex do?
Deals with more complex operations, including making connections with stored information, analysing input and controlling sophisticated muscular movements.
Where is the sub-cortex (white matter)?
Under the cortex
Where is the cerebellum?
The base of the brain
what does the cerebellum do?
Co-ordinates a range of muscular movements which have become highly automatic.
How many hemispheres does the brain have?
Two
What are the hemispheres joined by?
The corpus callosum.
What does the left hemisphere do?
Controls movement and sensation on the right side of the body.
What does the right hemisphere do?
Links to the left side.
What is the left hemisphere associated with?
Analytic processing and symbolisation
What is the right hemisphere associated with?
Perceptual and spatial representation
What are the four lobes?
Frontal, Temporal, Occipital and parietal lobes.
Which side of the brain is verbal?
left
which side of the brain controls logic?
left
Which side of the brain is creative?
Right
What is localisation?
That particular cognitive functions are local to particular parts of the brain
What is lateralisation?
Are there differences between the left and right side of the brain
What is commisurotome?
Cutting the corpus colosseum and disconnecting the hemispheres. then showing the patient an object. They will only be able to comprehend with the right side of the brain because there is no connection.
Diachronic listening?
The listening ability is stronger in the right ear due to the left hemisphere dominance.
