Read Chapter 13: Cognitive Neuroscience, Only the Sections: Language, Variations in Language Processing, and Communication Disorders and Brain Mechanisms for Language. Chapter 14: Affective Neuroscience, Only the Section: Emotion from the course text, Discovering Behavioral Neuroscience.
Please complete all of the following:
Using our required readings and one recent peer-reviewed article, briefly explain the most well-known regions of the brain involved in language generation and comprehension and explain ONE of the following:
the neurobiology of one language disorder of your choice OR
the neurobiology of one language function that most interests you such as reading, speaking, language learning, sign language, metaphor, categorization, or other topic.
For either topic, please mention specific brain regions underlying those functions.
Using our textbook and one recent peer-reviewed article, briefly explain the most well-known regions of the brain involved in emotion and then explain how language and emotion may interact behaviorally and neurologically. For example, does our language affect the emotions we feel and what might this look like within the brain and in daily life? (See Brooks et al., 2017, and Okon-Singer et al., 2015)
Choose emotion OR language (choose both for a challenge) and explain how knowledge of its neurobiology helps understand its relationship to ONE of the following topics:
Issues of culture and diversity
Technology
Life span development
Methods for improving personal or professional life
Remember to support claims with peer-reviewed research
Neurobiology of Language and Emotion
Language Function: Reading
Well-Known Brain Regions in Language Processing
One of the most well-known brain regions involved in language processing is Broca's area, located in the left frontal lobe. This area is crucial for language production and speech. Another key region is Wernicke's area, situated in the left temporal lobe, responsible for language comprehension. Additionally, the angular gyrus, located at the junction of the parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, plays a role in reading and other language-related functions.
Neurobiology of Reading
Dyslexia is a common language disorder that affects reading ability. Recent research by Shaywitz et al. (2018) suggests that individuals with dyslexia show differences in brain activation patterns compared to typical readers. Areas such as the left temporoparietal regions and the inferior frontal gyrus may exhibit differences in individuals with dyslexia, impacting their reading proficiency.
Language and Emotion Interaction
Language and emotion are intricately linked at both behavioral and neurological levels. The amygdala, a key brain region involved in emotion processing, interacts with language areas such as Broca's and Wernicke's areas during emotional communication. Research by Okon-Singer et al. (2015) highlights how emotional content in language can modulate amygdala activity, influencing emotional responses.
Understanding Emotion through Neurobiology
Knowledge of the neurobiology of emotion can provide insights into its relationship with lifespan development. For instance, the maturation of prefrontal regions associated with emotional regulation continues throughout adolescence and into adulthood, impacting emotional responses across different life stages. By understanding the neural mechanisms underlying emotion, interventions aimed at enhancing emotional regulation skills can be tailored to specific developmental periods.
In conclusion,
the neurobiology of language and emotion offers a profound understanding of how these cognitive processes interact behaviorally and neurologically. By studying the brain regions involved in language functions like reading and emotional processing, researchers can explore the intricate connections between language, emotion, and various aspects of human experience, from cultural influences to lifespan development and personal well-being.
References:
- Shaywitz, S. E., et al. (2018). Functional disruption in the organization of the brain for reading in dyslexia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(40), 10291-10298.
- Okon-Singer, H., et al. (2015). The neurobiology of emotion–cognition interactions: Fundamental questions and strategies for future research. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 9, 58.