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CoursesPhysiologyNervous systemCerebral cortex and higher cognitive functionsCognition and language

CoursesPhysiologyNervous systemCerebral cortex and higher cognitive functionsCognition and language

Cognition and language

After completing this study unit you will be able to:

Define cognition and describe the roles of the parietal, temporal, and prefrontal association cortex.
Explain the concept of cerebral hemispheric specialization.
Identify the location of Broca’s area, Wernicke’s area, and the arcuate fasciculus and understand their role in language processing.
Describe the differences between some of the common types of aphasias.

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Cognition encompasses all the higher mental processes that allow us to perceive and understand the world, reason and solve problems. It is orchestrated mainly by the cerebral cortex. The areas of the cortex that are responsible for the integration of sensory information and memory are the association areas which include the parietal, temporal and prefrontal association cortex. These areas enable spatial awareness, object recognition and decision making.

Language is one of the most complex and important cognitive functions, which relies on specialized regions of the left hemisphere, including Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, connected by the arcuate fasciculus. These structures facilitate comprehension and production of speech, ensuring seamless flow of communication.

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Explore concepts

Cognition

Cognition refers to the mental functions that allow perception, memory integration, reasoning and problem-solving. The cerebral cortex, and especially the association areas, integrate sensory information and memory formation to create a logical understanding of the world.

Cerebral hemispheric specialization

The two cerebral hemispheres specialize in different functions. The left hemisphere predominantly handles language and mathematical tasks, while the right is primarily responsible for spatial tasks and abstract reasoning. Despite this specialization, both hemispheres collaborate for most functions.

Language

Language processing is primarily a left-hemisphere function and involves Broca’s area (for speech production), Wernicke’s area (for speech comprehension) and the arcuate fasciculus (for communication between them).

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Summary

Key points about cognition and language
Definitions	Cognition: Mental process for perception, memory, reasoning and problem-solving Language: Cognitive function for communication via speech and/or writing
Association cortical areas	Parietal association cortex: Spatial awareness, attention and visual processing Temporal association cortex: Face/object recognition, memory formation and retrieval Prefrontal association cortex: Decision-making, social behavior
Cerebral hemispheric lateralization	Left hemisphere: language (word formation and comprehension) analytical thinking (math) Right hemisphere: Spatial awareness, face/object recognition, abstract reasoning Note: both hemispheres collaborate for most tasks
Language centers	Broca’s area: Frontal lobe, speech production, grammar/syntax. Damage causes Broca’s or expressive aphasia Wernicke’s area: Temporal-parietal junction, language comprehension. Damage causes Wernicke’s or receptive aphasia Arcuate fasciculus: Fiber system that connects Wernicke’s and Broca’s areas, enables speech repetition. Damage causes conduction aphasia and impairs repetition

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