Brain-Language Research: Where is the Progress?

Friedemann Pulvermüller

doi:10.5964/bioling.8791

Abstract

Recent cognitive neuroscience research improved our understanding of where, when, how, and why language circuits emerge and activate in the human brain. Where: Regions crucial for very specific linguistic processes were delineated; phonetic features and fine semantic categories could be mapped onto specific sets of cortical areas. When: Brain correlates of phonological, syntactic and semantic processes were documented early-on, suggesting language understanding in an instant (within 250ms). How: New mechanistic network models mimicking structure and function of left-perisylvian language areas suggest that multimodal action-perception circuits — rather than separate modules for action and perception — carry the processing resources for language use and understanding. Why language circuits emerge in specific areas, become active at specific early time points and are connected in specific ways is best addressed in light of neuroscience principles governing neuronal activation, correlation learning, and, critical-ly, partly predetermined structural information wired into connections between cortical neurons and areas.

Highlights

Questions in FocusThe aim of the neuroscience of language is to find the brain correlates of linguistic processes and representations
Correlates of linguistic representations are sought in neuronal structures, that is, nerve cell circuits, and correlates of linguistic processes are sought in patterns of neuronal activation
The idea that access to movement knowledge tied to words is reflected in lateral temporal activation just anterior to a movement sensitive visual processing area (Martin et al 1995) was recently questioned based on a lack of activation differences between nouns with more or less semantic relationship to movement (Bedny et al 2008). While this finding argues against a role of middle temporal cortex in kinematic semantics, there is still solid evidence that the action-relatedness of word meaning is reflected in the activation of the left middle temporal area (MNI coordinates –62/–52/4; Hauk et al 2008)

Summary

Introduction

The aim of the neuroscience of language is to find the brain correlates of linguistic processes and representations. Correlates of linguistic representations are sought in neuronal structures, that is, nerve cell circuits, and correlates of linguistic processes are sought in patterns of neuronal activation. These aims have as yet not been reached. Conclusions are still at the level of ‘areas’ ‘performing’ certain functions, a state not untypical for cognitive neuroscience in general. Such ‘arealogy’ can be understood as an intermediate step on the journey towards neuroscientific explanation.

Pulvermüller

Why-question

Where-Question

Why: From Brain Mechanisms to Explanation

Linguistic Summary and Synopsis