In this conversation Jonathan Peelle, language researcher and author of the a recent book on the subject, ranges over many aspects of the brain origins of language. We begin by discussing nineteenth century luminaries Broca and Wernicke and the effect of the First World War on simplistic notions of localisation, revived in modified form by Penfield and Geschwind in the '50s and '60s. We talk about the various stages of understanding and using language, including non-verbal aspects of communication and non verbal language use (sign language). After discussing the various brain investigation tools used in language research, illustrated by one of Jonathan's own studies, we talk about the often unsung contribution on the cerebellum to communication (a structure that actually has four times as many neurons as the rest of the brain). We go on to talk about the effect of background noise on our ability to recall what is said and recent discoveries about the way brain electrical oscillation impacts linguistic functions. Great conversation with a real expert in the field.
Participants:
Jonathan Peelle is a Professor, Institute for Cognitive and Brain Health, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, USA. http://jonathanpeelle.net/
https://cos.northeastern.edu/people/jonathan-peelle-2/
Ken Barrett is an artist, writer and former neuropsychiatrist http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/
Jonathan's book 'The Neuroscience of Language': https://www.cambridge.org/highereducation/books/the-neuroscience-of-language/CC8ADEC4DCE8BB398F71BFFA1E56D124#overview
More on Broca: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Broca
Wernicke: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Wernicke
Norman Geschwind: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Geschwind
Wilder Penfield: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilder_Penfield
Musical extract: Prelude from Act 1 of Brainland, composed by Stephen Brown.
Brainland the opera website: www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk
Instagram: #brainlandcollective
Sketch by KB
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