Chapter 4 Neurolinguistics

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Chapter 4Neurolinguistics
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Central Nervous System

• Note Figure 4.1 that shows a schematic of the
  Left Cerebral Hemisphere
• Note the Motor Cortex a strip that controls
  motor movements and refer to Figure 4.2
• Sensory Cortex receives sensory input
• Integration of sensory and motor information for
  various body functions

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Three basic functions

• Regulation basic level of awareness and
  responsiveness
• Processing information is analyzed, coded and
  stored requires that data from multiple sources
  be analyzed, integrated, synthesized
• Formulation intent and programming of behavior
  motor behaviors are planned and coordinated

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• Also,
• Executive function selective attention, goal
  setting, planning and organizing
• Self Regulation monitoring, evaluating and
  adjusting performance

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Hemispheric asymmetry

• Remember that neither hemisphere can function
  alone, but areas of specialization is more useful
• Left hemisphere is dominant for language and
  speech related oral movements, BUT the right
  hemisphere is used for more holistic aspects of
  communication such as prosody, nonlinguistic
  cues, etc.,

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Language Development, Brain Maturation
Specialization

• Density of neurons
• Increased connections
• Importance of experiences to stimulate and
  strengthen connections
• For example, linking of auditory and motor areas
  occurs early in 2nd year of life related to
  imitation of speech sounds
• As the child is exposed to and adds more
  information, the information must be organized
  for easy access and use

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Language Processing

• Must attend to linguistic information
• Comprehension is dependent on processing the
  linguistic information and understanding word
  meanings and concepts (left hemisphere)
• The right hemisphere will process the
  nonlinguistic information and paralinguistic cues

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Language Processing

• Working Memory allows linguistic information to
  be held for analysis
• Comprehension is also dependent upon storage of
  information and complexity of the message
• The exact nature of language analysis is not
  known but it is a remarkable fast and efficient
  system.

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Language Production

• Begins with a concept to be communicated
• Structure of the message must be organized
• Message must be formulated programming of the
  motor cortex (i.e., articulation, respiration,
  phonation, resonation).

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Information ProcessingFigure 4.6

• Attention discrimination
• Organization
• Memory
• Transfer

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• Other processing models have been developed
• Metacognition our awareness of our thinking
  processes and how we use that knowledge

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Neuroplasticity

• When one area of the brain can take over the
  function of another area