Language Processing

Question 1

what separates the human brain into 2 distinct cerebral hemisphere

Answer 1

sagittal (medial longitudinal) fissure

Question 2

what are the two distinct cerebral hemispheres connected by

Answer 2

corpus callosum

Question 3

the __________ of brain function is the tendency for some neural functions or cognitive processes to be specialized to one side over the other

Answer 3

lateralization

Question 4

what are some examples of lateralization of function

Answer 4

• discrete functions, processing capabilities, and reasoning

a) Sensory inputs (vision) and motor commands
b) Language processing
c) Value systems
- [L - ethics/rules]
- [R- holistic/metaphorical]

Question 5

language, math, logic, reasoning

Answer 5

left hemi

Question 6

spatial abilities, facial recognition, visual imagery, music

Answer 6

right hemi

Question 7

established lateralization is that of __________ and _________ areas, where both are often (not always) found exclusively on the left hemisphere

Answer 7

Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas

Question 8

language dominant hemi

Answer 8

LEFT hemi
[95% of right handed people]

Question 9

important speech and language pathways

Answer 9

Question 10

what are the components of the language pathways

Answer 10

1) sources of lang info
2) centralized lang reception & interpretation
- collect + compare
3) lang production

Question 11

what are the source of lang info

Answer 11

a) primary auditory cortex (BA 41/42)
b) primary sensory cortex (BA1/2/3)
c) primary visual cortex (BA17)

Question 12

what are the centralized lang reception/interpretation areas

Answer 12

1) wernickes area (sensory speech area or speech receiving)
2) angular gyrus (complex lang function)

Question 13

what are the areas of lang production (5)

Answer 13

a) supramarginal gyrus
- role in planning speech
b) Brocas area
- motor speech area
c) supplemental motor speech area
- control of rhythm and articulation
d) primary motor cortex
- skeletal muscle control (depending on mode of lang production)
e) right (nondominant hemi)
- emotional/attitude/melodic components of speech

Question 14

what is the sub-cortical fiber pathway called ______ that connects (Wernicke’s area) to (Broca’s area).

Answer 14

called the arcuate fasciculus

Question 15

which major artery provides branches that supply brocas and wernickes areas

Answer 15

middle cerebral artery

Question 16

stroke, head trauma, encephalitis, dementia, brain cancer, etc. can cause pathological conditions affecting speech/language processing such as the following

Answer 16

aphasia/dysphasia
dysarthria
agnosia
apraxia

Question 17

loss/reduction of ability to understand or express speech

Answer 17

aphasia/dysphasia

Question 18

speech disorder caused by disturbance of muscular control, often resulting in slurred or slow speech

Answer 18

dysarthria

Question 19

inability to interpret sensations and hence to recognize things (people, objects, sounds, shapes)

Answer 19

Agnosia

Question 20

inability to perform certain purposive physical actions due to damage to areas of learned patterns of movement (simple tasks)

Answer 20

Apraxia

Question 21

Brocas aphasia (motor/expressive/non-fluent)

Answer 21

auditory and reading comprehension normal
writing impaired
spontaneous speech slow and labored
repetition weak

[tip of tongue - understood of whats being asked/told]

Question 22

Wernicke’s Aphasia (sensory/receptive/fluent)

Answer 22

auditory and reading comprehension impaired/weakened
writing weakened
spontaneous speech fluent but may lack meaning
repetition impaired

[no trouble producing speech sounds but no understanding of what is being said/what their saying]

Question 23

Ideomotor apraxia

Answer 23

the impaired ability to perform a skilled gesture with a limb upon verbal command and/or by imitation

[no idea of how to do simple tasks]

Question 24

Speech apraxia

Answer 24

the impaired ability to perform motor skills necessary to produce speech, even as repetition

[cannot mimic interviewer by producing speech]

Question 25

types of aphasia

Answer 25

1) global
2) conduction

Question 26

Global Aphasia

Answer 26

Results from damage to both Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas
[All language functions would be impaired]

Question 27

Conduction aphasia (lesion of arcuate fasciculus)

Answer 27

auditory comprehension slightly abnormal
reading comprehension may be normal, but writes with occasional errors
spontaneous speech fluent but occasional wrong word; repetition abnormal
inability to process subtle aspects of communication such as tone of voice, emotion, and facial expression

Question 28

CN and if damaged, their effect on speech production

Answer 28

Question 29

the production of __________requires integration of diverse information sources in order to generate the intricate patterns of muscle activation required for fluency.

Answer 29

production of speech

Question 30

large portion of the __________, along with associated subcortical structures, is involved in even the simplest speech task, such as reading a single word.

Answer 30

cerebral cortex