FOXP2 gene and language development: the molecular substrate of the gestural-origin theory of speech?

Carmelo M Vicario

doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00099

Abstract

OPINION article Front. Behav. Neurosci., 05 August 2013Sec. Pathological Conditions https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00099

Highlights

Over time, these philosophical thoughts have gradually got consistence, thanks to the research in the field of Psychology and Neuroscience, which has provided exciting evidence in support of the so-called gestural origin-theory of language (Corballis, 2002)
A recent meta-analysis of 125 human fMRI studies (Molenberghs et al, 2012) identified a core network of human brain regions that possess mirror properties associated with action observation and execution, there is a literature that challenges the existence of these neurons in humans
The study of Lingnau et al (2009) failed in finding adaptation for motor acts that were first executed and observed in the brain areas that are typically considered as endowed of mirror properties

Summary

Introduction

These philosophical thoughts have gradually got consistence, thanks to the research in the field of Psychology and Neuroscience, which has provided exciting evidence in support of the so-called gestural origin-theory of language (Corballis, 2002). The literature on Mirror Neurons has provided a strong support to the gesturalorigin theory thanks to the evidence of a close relationship between arm (Gallese et al, 1996; Rizzolatti et al, 1996) and mouth actions (Ferrari et al, 2003) in the brain of non-human primates. A recent meta-analysis of 125 human fMRI studies (Molenberghs et al, 2012) identified a core network of human brain regions that possess mirror properties associated with action observation and execution, there is a literature that challenges the existence of these neurons in humans.

Results

Conclusion