Psycholinguistics

1
Psycholinguistics

• Neurolinguistics Language and the brain

2
The case of Phineas Gage

• He was a railroad construction foreman in 1848.
• An iron rod passed through his head in an
  explosives accident.
• He survived, and was back at work within a few
  days.
• His language ability was unaffected
• Major personality problems ensued
• He probably did not join a circus Fromkin is
  wrong!

3
Modularity

• Before Gage the brain just a big mass?
• Now, evidence that different brain parts have
  different functions
• Early evidence was from autopsies
• Now, of course, we can use MRI and other
  technologies

4
Lateralization

• The brain is made up of two hemispheres
• Left and right
• Motor control
• Right hemisphere controls left side of body