the brain region critical for speech production is called

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What Part of the Brain Controls Speech?

Your brain is responsible for nearly all functions of your body and for interpreting sensory information from the world around you.

Your brain has many parts but speech is primarily controlled by the largest part of the brain, the cerebrum .

The cerebrum can be divided into two parts, called hemispheres, which are joined by a band of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum .

Your speech is typically governed by the left side of your cerebrum. In about a third of people who are left-handed, however, speech may actually be controlled by the right side.

Parts of the brain involved in speech

In recent decades, there has been an explosion of research into language processing in the brain. It’s now generally accepted that the control of speech is part of a complex network in the brain.

The formation of speech requires many different processes, from putting thoughts into words, forming a comprehensible sentence, and then actually making the mouth move to make the correct sounds.

There are several areas of the brain known to play a role in speech:

Each hemisphere of the cerebrum can also be divided into regions called lobes, which include the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes.

The lobes located in the front and side of your brain, the frontal lobes and the temporal lobes, are primarily involved in speech formation and understanding.

Broca’s area

Broca’s area is located in the front part of the left hemisphere of your brain. It has an important role in turning your ideas and thoughts into actual spoken words. Broca’s area has been found to be most active right before you speak.

Broca’s area also helps to pass the information to another part of your brain called the motor cortex, which controls the movements of your mouth. It’s named after French doctor, Pierre Paul Broca, who discovered the region of the brain in 1861.

Wernicke’s area

Wernicke’s area is mainly involved in the understanding and processing speech and written language. Wernicke’s area was first discovered by Karl Wernicke in 1876. It’s located in the temporal lobe, just behind your ears. The temporal lobe is also the region where sound is processed.

Arcuate fasciculus

The arcuate fasciculus is a band of nerves that connects Wernicke’s area and Broca’s area. It helps you form words, speak clearly, and understand concepts in language form.

The cerebellum is located at the back of your brain. The cerebellum is involved in coordinating voluntary muscle movements like opening and closing your mouth, moving your arms and legs, standing upright, and maintaining balance. It also controls language processing.

A review published in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology suggests that the cerebellum is actually more important to language processing than previously thought.

Motor cortex

To speak clearly, you must move the muscles of your mouth, tongue, and throat. This is where the motor cortex comes into play.

Located in the frontal lobe, the motor cortex takes information from Broca’s area and tells the muscles of your face, mouth, tongue, lips, and throat how to move to form speech.

Brain injury and speech

What happens if one or more of these parts is injured, damaged, or abnormal?

If you have a problem speaking or understanding speech, it’s a condition called aphasia . If you have trouble putting together the correct muscle movements necessary to produce speech, it’s a condition called apraxia .

Both aphasia and apraxia are most often caused by a stroke or trauma to the brain, usually when the left side of the brain is affected. Other less common causes are brain tumors and infections.

Symptoms of aphasia or apraxia depend on where the damage occurs in the brain and the severity of the damage. These symptoms include:

Speaking slowly or slurring words

If Broca’s area is damaged, a person might find it difficult to produce the sounds of speech or may speak very slowly and slur their words. Speech is often limited to short sentences of less than four words. This is called Broca’s aphasia or nonfluent aphasia.

Another cause is if stroke or injury damages the areas of the brain that control movements of the muscles of the mouth or tongue.

Speaking in long and nonsensical sentences

Damage to Wernicke’s area may cause someone to make up nonsense words or speak in long sentences that have no meaning. The person also may not realize that others can’t understand them. This is called Wernicke’s aphasia or fluent aphasia.

Inability to repeat words you just heard

If the arcuate fascilicus, the bundle of nerves that connects Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area, is damaged, a person may not be able to repeat language previously heard. This is called conduction aphasia.

General inability to speak and understand language

Widespread damage to the brain’s language centers can result in global aphasia. People with global aphasia will have an extremely hard time expressing and understanding language.

People with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, often experience loss of speech slowly over time. This is called primary progressive aphasia (PPA).

PPA is not Alzheimer’s disease but can be a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. PPA can also be an isolated disorder without the other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Some people with PPA have normal memories and can continue leisure activities and sometimes even work.

Unlike aphasia that results from stroke or brain trauma, PPA results from slow deterioration of one or more areas of the brain used in speech and language.

The takeaway

Speech relies on the activation of multiple areas of the brain working together cooperatively.

Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area are considered the major components of the brain involved in speech, but other parts of the brain also play an important role in coordinating the muscles of the mouth to create spoken words. For most people, speech-related brain activity happens on the left side of the brain.

Damage or injury to any of these parts can lead to speech problems known as aphasia or apraxia. Speech-language therapy is often helpful for people with these conditions. Although restoring full speech abilities after brain damage isn’t always possible, improvements can be made.

How we reviewed this article:

• Anatomy of the brain. (2018). https://mayfieldclinic.com/pe-anatbrain.htm
• Aphasia. (n.d.). https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aphasia/
• Apraxia of speech. (2017). https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/apraxia-speech
• Flinker A, et al. (2015). Redefining the role of Broca's area in speech. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1414491112
• Highnam CL, et al. (2011). Language in the cerebellum. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1044/1058-0360(2011/10-0096)
• Javed K, et al. (2019). Neuroanatomy, Wernicke area. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK533001/
• Price CJ. (2012). A review and synthesis of the first 20 years of PET and fMRI studies of heard speech, spoken language and reading. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.04.062
• Primary progressive aphasia is not Alzheimer's. (2016). https://www.aphasia.org/stories/primary-progressive-aphasia-is-not-alzheimers/
• Speech and language. (n.d.). https://memory.ucsf.edu/speech-language
• Stinnett TJ, et al. (2018). Neuroanatomy, Broca area.   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526096/

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Brain Regions Controlling Speech: Exploring Language Processing and Production

A complex tapestry of neural connections weaves the intricate story of how our brains give rise to the uniquely human abilities of speech and language. From the moment we utter our first words as toddlers to the intricate conversations we engage in as adults, our brains are constantly at work, orchestrating a symphony of cognitive processes that allow us to communicate with one another.

Have you ever wondered how your brain manages to transform abstract thoughts into spoken words? Or how it deciphers the rapid-fire sounds of speech into meaningful ideas? The answers lie within the folds and crevices of our cerebral cortex, where specialized regions work in harmony to produce and comprehend language.

The Dynamic Duo: Broca’s and Wernicke’s Areas

At the heart of our language abilities are two key players: Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area. These regions, named after the pioneering neurologists who discovered them, form the cornerstone of our linguistic capabilities. But they’re just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the brain’s language network.

Broca’s area, nestled in the frontal lobe, is like the conductor of an orchestra, coordinating the complex movements required for speech production. On the other hand, Wernicke’s Area: The Brain’s Language Comprehension Center acts as the interpreter, making sense of the sounds and symbols that bombard our senses.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. To truly appreciate the marvel that is human language, we need to dive deeper into each of these areas and explore how they contribute to our linguistic prowess.

Broca’s Area: The Speech Production Powerhouse

Imagine trying to speak without being able to move your lips, tongue, or vocal cords in the right sequence. That’s the challenge our brains face every time we open our mouths to speak. Thankfully, Broca’s area is up to the task.

Located in the frontal lobe of the brain, typically in the left hemisphere for right-handed individuals, Broca’s area is the mastermind behind speech production. It’s like the brain’s very own Talking Brain: Exploring the Fascinating World of Neural Communication , coordinating the intricate dance of muscles needed to form words and sentences.

But Broca’s area doesn’t just handle the physical aspects of speech. It’s also crucial for verbal expression, helping us choose the right words and arrange them in grammatically correct sentences. It’s the difference between saying “The cat sat on the mat” and “Mat the on sat cat the.”

When Broca’s area is damaged, the results can be devastating. Patients with Broca’s aphasia often struggle to produce fluent speech, speaking in short, fragmented phrases that lack grammar and function words. It’s as if the conductor of their linguistic orchestra has suddenly disappeared, leaving the musicians to play without direction.

Interestingly, Broca’s area doesn’t work in isolation. It’s connected to other language-related brain regions through a network of neural pathways. One of the most important of these is the arcuate fasciculus, a bundle of nerve fibers that links Broca’s area to Wernicke’s area, allowing for seamless communication between speech production and comprehension centers.

Wernicke’s Area: The Language Comprehension Hub

While Broca’s area helps us speak, Wernicke’s area allows us to understand. Located in the temporal lobe, typically on the left side of the brain, Wernicke’s area is the brain’s language comprehension powerhouse.

Think of Wernicke’s area as a sophisticated translation device. When someone speaks to you, it’s Wernicke’s area that decodes the stream of sounds into meaningful words and sentences. It’s not just about recognizing individual words, but understanding the overall meaning and context of what’s being said.

But what happens when Wernicke’s area is damaged? The results can be just as dramatic as damage to Broca’s area, but in a different way. Patients with Wernicke’s aphasia can often speak fluently, but their speech may lack meaning or be filled with nonsensical words. They might say something like, “The blue elephant danced on the toaster,” and believe they’re making perfect sense.

Wernicke’s area doesn’t just work in isolation either. It’s part of a larger language network that includes regions in the 5 Lobes of the Brain: Exploring the Structure and Functions of Cerebral Regions . This network allows for the complex processing required to understand not just the literal meaning of words, but also nuances, metaphors, and context.

Beyond Broca and Wernicke: The Expansive Language Network

While Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas are the stars of the language show, they’re supported by a cast of other brain regions that contribute to our linguistic abilities. It’s like a intricate web of Cognitive Function Brain Areas: Mapping the Mind’s Control Centers , each playing a crucial role in the language process.

The arcuate fasciculus, which we mentioned earlier, is like the brain’s information superhighway, connecting Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas. This white matter tract allows for the rapid exchange of information between the speech production and comprehension centers, enabling fluent communication.

The temporal lobe, home to Wernicke’s area, plays a broader role in language processing. It’s involved in storing and retrieving word meanings, and it’s particularly important for understanding spoken language. In fact, the Brain’s Auditory System: The Temporal Lobe and Hearing Control is crucial for processing the sounds of speech.

The frontal lobe, where Broca’s area resides, is involved in more than just speech production. It plays a role in language planning, sentence construction, and even in understanding complex grammar. It’s like the brain’s language command center, coordinating various aspects of linguistic expression.

Don’t forget about the parietal lobe! While it’s not typically associated with language in the same way as Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, it contributes to language comprehension in important ways. The parietal lobe helps integrate sensory information, which is crucial for understanding context and nonverbal aspects of communication.

The Brain’s Language Processing: A Symphony of Neural Activity

Now that we’ve explored the key players in the brain’s language network, let’s take a step back and look at how the brain processes language as a whole. It’s a complex process that involves multiple regions working in concert, much like a well-rehearsed orchestra.

When we hear someone speak, the auditory cortex in the temporal lobe first processes the sound. This information is then passed to Wernicke’s area for interpretation. If we need to respond, Broca’s area steps in to formulate a reply, which is then executed by the motor cortex controlling our speech muscles.

But what about reading? When we read, our visual cortex processes the shapes of letters and words, which are then interpreted by regions in the temporal and parietal lobes. This process engages what some neuroscientists call the “ Reading Brain: The Fascinating Neuroscience Behind How We Process Written Language .”

Interestingly, the type of language we use can actually stimulate different parts of our brain. Language Types That Stimulate the Brain: Exploring Cognitive Enhancement Through Words shows how different forms of language, from poetry to scientific jargon, can engage various cognitive processes.

The neural pathways involved in language production are equally fascinating. When we speak, our brain activates a cascade of processes, from retrieving word meanings to planning sentence structure, to coordinating the physical movements of speech. It’s a testament to the incredible efficiency of our brains that we can do all this in real-time during conversation!

When Things Go Wrong: Language Disorders and Brain Damage

Unfortunately, our intricate language system can be disrupted by various factors, leading to communication disorders. One of the most common is aphasia, a condition that affects a person’s ability to communicate effectively.

Aphasia can take many forms, depending on which areas of the brain are affected. We’ve already mentioned Broca’s and Wernicke’s aphasia, but there are other types as well. Global aphasia, for instance, results from extensive damage to multiple language areas, severely impacting both speech production and comprehension.

Stroke is a common cause of aphasia, as it can damage the brain regions responsible for language. Depending on the location and extent of the stroke, a person might struggle with speaking, understanding, reading, or writing – or any combination of these.

Traumatic brain injury can also have profound effects on communication abilities. A blow to the head can damage various parts of the brain, potentially disrupting the delicate balance of the language network. This can lead to difficulties with word-finding, sentence formation, or understanding complex language.

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s can also affect language abilities as they progress. As the disease damages more areas of the brain, patients may struggle increasingly with communication, from mild word-finding difficulties to severe comprehension problems.

It’s not just major brain injuries that can affect speech. Even subtle changes in brain function can lead to noticeable differences in speech patterns. For example, Slurred Speech and the Brain: Neurological Mechanisms Behind Dysarthria explores how various neurological conditions can affect speech clarity.

The Future of Neurolinguistics: Unraveling the Mysteries of Language

As we wrap up our journey through the brain’s language centers, it’s clear that we’ve only scratched the surface of this fascinating field. The study of language and the brain, known as neurolinguistics, continues to evolve as researchers develop new tools and techniques to probe the inner workings of our linguistic abilities.

Advanced neuroimaging techniques like functional MRI (fMRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) are allowing scientists to observe the brain in action as it processes language. These tools are helping to refine our understanding of how different brain regions contribute to various aspects of language use.

One exciting area of research is the study of multilingualism. How does the brain manage multiple languages? Do bilingual individuals use the same brain regions for both languages, or are there separate neural networks? These questions are not just academically interesting – they have practical implications for language learning and recovery from brain injury.

Another frontier in neurolinguistics is the exploration of the Word Brain: Unlocking the Power of Linguistic Cognition . This research looks at how our brains store and retrieve words, and how this process relates to other cognitive functions like memory and attention.

The insights gained from neurolinguistic research have important applications in therapy and rehabilitation. For instance, understanding how the brain processes language can help in developing more effective treatments for conditions like Aphasia: Understanding Brain Damage and Language Impairment . This knowledge can guide the development of targeted therapies to help patients recover lost language skills or develop compensatory strategies.

As we continue to unravel the mysteries of language in the brain, we’re not just satisfying scientific curiosity. We’re opening up new possibilities for enhancing human communication, treating language disorders, and perhaps even expanding the boundaries of human cognition. The story of language in the brain is far from over – in fact, we might say we’re just beginning to find the right words to tell it.

References:

1. Friederici, A. D. (2011). The brain basis of language processing: from structure to function. Physiological Reviews, 91(4), 1357-1392.

2. Hickok, G., & Poeppel, D. (2007). The cortical organization of speech processing. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 8(5), 393-402.

3. Fedorenko, E., & Thompson-Schill, S. L. (2014). Reworking the language network. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 18(3), 120-126.

4. Saur, D., Kreher, B. W., Schnell, S., Kümmerer, D., Kellmeyer, P., Vry, M. S., … & Weiller, C. (2008). Ventral and dorsal pathways for language. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(46), 18035-18040.

5. Binder, J. R., & Desai, R. H. (2011). The neurobiology of semantic memory. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(11), 527-536.

6. Kiran, S., & Thompson, C. K. (2019). Neuroplasticity of language networks in aphasia: Advances, updates, and future challenges. Frontiers in Neurology, 10, 295.

7. Abutalebi, J., & Green, D. (2007). Bilingual language production: The neurocognition of language representation and control. Journal of Neurolinguistics, 20(3), 242-275.

8. Pulvermüller, F. (2018). Neural reuse of action perception circuits for language, concepts and communication. Progress in Neurobiology, 160, 1-44.

9. Hagoort, P. (2019). The neurobiology of language beyond single-word processing. Science, 366(6461), 55-58.

10. Dronkers, N. F., Wilkins, D. P., Van Valin Jr, R. D., Redfern, B. B., & Jaeger, J. J. (2004). Lesion analysis of the brain areas involved in language comprehension. Cognition, 92(1-2), 145-177.

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Psychology Info

Psychology Information

Areas of the brain involved in speech production and comprehension

-By Timothy Lyons

There are several areas of the brain involved in speech production and comprehension discussed in (Carson & Birkett, 2017). Both the left and right hemispheres of the brain are instrumental in this effort. In most brains, the left hemisphere is used to understand and generate speech. The right hemisphere is normally used in dealing with speech patterns and emotional content in speech. The fact that we store information about events is important in the production of speech. There must be content to discuss. The content of our speech can be related to the past or stored memories, the present which would be events occurring at the time of the speech and the future which would be hypothetical or imaginary events. In order for speech to occur, the parietal, occipital and temporal lobes, located in the posterior area of the cerebral hemispheres, are active in the comprehension of presently occurring events and in the use of memories. It is also believed that these areas assist in imagination of future events. The left hemisphere deals in the production and comprehension of speech but the right hemisphere is necessary for this communication in that this area deals in figurative components of speech such as understanding metaphors.

An area in the left hemisphere of the brain called Broca’s area plays a role in speech production. This area contains neurons that deal with the functions of speech creation and understanding language. It is located in the frontal left hemisphere rostral to the primary motor cortex and is necessary for fluent and effective speech (Britannica.com, 2016). It would appear that Broca’s area is necessary for motor functions that deal with the complex coordinated movements of the tongue lips and mouth with the vocal cords (Carson & Birkett, 2017).  Another area in the left hemisphere close to the auditory cortex that is necessary for speech comprehension is Wernicke’s area. This area contains neurons that deal with comprehension. It is important for understanding speech sounds (Britannica.com, 2014). Wernicke’s area contains auditory information about the sounds of words and enables the ability to identify words by their sounds.

References: Areas of the brain involved in speech production and comprehension

Blanke M L VanDongen A M 2009 Biology of the NMDA ReceptorBlanke, M. L., & VanDongen, A. M. (2009). Activation Mechanisms of the NMDA Receptor. In A. M. VanDongen (Ed.), Biology of the NMDA Receptor (1 ed.). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK5274/ 20170202075542267174124

Britannicacom 2014 Wernicke areaBritannica.com. (2014, January 24). Wernicke area . Retrieved February 4, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/science/Wernicke-area 20170204100832880324602

Britannicacom 2016 Broca areaBritannica.com. (2016, August 31). Broca area . Retrieved February 4, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/science/Broca-area 20170204100434533897757

Carlson N R Birkett M A 2017 Physiology of BehaviorCarson, N. R., & Birkett, M. A. (2017). Physiology of Behavior (12 ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.  201701051006041088637590

Christian N 2017 Amnesia: Causes, Symptoms, and TreatmentsChristian, N. (2017, January 21). Amnesia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments . Retrieved February 3, 2017, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9673.php 201702030933121938469291

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Brain Areas That Control Speech

Mcat psychology - chapter 2- section 5 - cognition - language.

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Sample MCAT Question - Brain Areas That Control Speech

Which region of the brain is responsible for language production?

a) Broca’s Area

b) Wernicke’s Area

c) Arcuate Fasciculus

d) Auditory Cortex

A is correct.

Broca's area is a brain region in the frontal lobe important for language production. Answer choice B is incorrect because Wernicke's area is a brain region in the temporal lobe important for language comprehension. Answer choice C is incorrect because the arcuate fasciculus is the bundle of axons that connects Broca's and Wernicke's area and is involved in the process of repeating words. Answer choice D is incorrect because the auditory cortex is responsible for processing auditory information.

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Brain Areas That Control Speech for the MCAT

The ability to speak and communicate through language is one of the most remarkable and defining features of human cognition. Behind this complex process lies a network of brain areas that work together to orchestrate the production and comprehension of speech. In this post, we’ll be reviewing the speech control brain areas that you need to know for the MCAT, including Broca’s area, Wernicke’s area, and the arcuate fasciculus.

Broca's Area

Looking at Figure 1, we can see that Broca’s area is a brain region in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere of most individuals. Broca’s area is important for language production, and individuals that have a damaged Broca’s area have what is called nonfluent, expressive, or Broca’s aphasia . People with Broca’s aphasia are unable to produce language that is comprehensible. They often speak with poor sentence construction, disjointed words, and long pauses between words. However, these patients often don’t have any problems with language comprehension.

Wernicke's Area

Wernicke’s area is a brain region in the temporal lobe of the left hemisphere of most individuals. Wernicke’s area is important for language comprehension, and damage to this area can result in what is called fluent, sensory, or Wernicke’s aphasia . Damage to Wernicke’s area results in difficulty comprehending language, but does not typically affect the ability to speak. However, because these patients cannot comprehend language, their speech is often nonsensical.

Arcuate Fasciculus

The arcuate fasciculus is a bundle of axons that connects Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area. Damage to the arcuate fasciculus results in what is called conduction aphasia . Patients with conduction aphasia can successfully comprehend and produce language. However, the patients typically have difficulty repeating words that they hear.

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What Part of the Brain Controls Speech?

Language is a unique part of human interaction controlled by your brain’s various speech centers, including the Wernicke’s and Broca’s area.

Over thousands of years, language has evolved, and the ability to communicate has expanded. There are more words today than ever before, with more being created by the hour!

All of this complexity and advancement in language can leave you wondering exactly how speech works. From the vibration in your throat to the movement of your lips, speech is a complex function controlled by several key parts of the brain.

Injury to any one of these areas can result in various changes in your overall speaking ability. Injuries can impair anything, from the way you understand words to the way you communicate them.

Which side of the brain controls speech?

The largest part of your brain, called the cerebral cortex, is divided into two sides or hemispheres — the left and right. For most right-handed people, the left side does the majority of the work during speech. In most left-handed people, the language centers are located in the right hemisphere.

The major functions of speech which are controlled by the left hemisphere include:

• comprehension : understanding the meaning of words and sentences
• articulation : the pronunciation of words
• fluency : the timing, tones, and patterns of speech

Language skills and functions are located in the dominant hemisphere, the side of the brain opposite the dominant hand. But both hemispheres are involved with regulating the motor function of speech and deciding how to communicate with others, including reading social cues.

Aside from the two cerebral hemispheres, the brain is also composed of the brainstem and cerebellum. The cerebellum plays an important supportive role in all movement-based or “motor” functions.

The cerebellum is located in the middle of the back of your head. It helps to coordinate muscle contractions of the mouth and face during speech, which is essential for maintaining “normal” speech fluency .

Which parts of the brain influence speech?

There are several different parts or lobes of the cerebrum that contribute to different speech functions. Your brain’s major speech centers are located in the temporal and parietal lobes on the dominant side. Additional contributions also come from the frontal lobe, toward the front of your head.

These different parts of the brain all work together to influence your ability to speak. The basic functions of speech that are controlled by these areas include:

• comprehension
• execution (speaking)

Wernicke’s area

This is the name of a specific part of the brain responsible primarily for the comprehension of language . This means that it helps to make sure that what you want to say actually makes sense.

It does this partly by assigning meaning to words and partly by helping you string those words together. If your brain didn’t assign meaning to words, you’d end up making nonsensical sounds when you speak.

If it didn’t string meaningful words together, you’d end up with jumbled sentences .

Broca’s area

Located relatively close to Wernicke’s area, Broca’s area has a similar but still different role to play. It’s involved primarily in the generation of language fluency. Whereas Wernicke’s area deals with making sense of words, Broca’s area deals with forming sentences before you speak.

You can think of Broca’s area like a language planning center. It organizes the ideas that you want to express through language. It also plays a minor role in speech comprehension as well.

Motor cortex

Your brain’s motor cortex is an area that’s responsible for the planning and execution of muscle movements. This is important for the generation and execution of speech, according to a 2015 study .

The motor cortex controls the muscles that are involved in speech. These include your:

• vocal cords

When you want to say something out loud, the motor cortex works together with Wernicke and Broca’s area to formulate the plan and make it happen.

How can a brain injury affect speech?

Injury to any area of the brain involved in speech can result in speech impairments. In the extreme, a total loss of speaking ability can occur. But the extent of the impairment depends on which area of the brain was affected and what type of injury occurred.

Having a stroke is a common brain injury that can result in various speech impairments. A stroke occurs when there’s a loss of blood flow to some area of the brain. Head trauma or brain tumors can also cause speech impairments.

Fluent aphasia

An injury affecting Wernicke’s area results in the inability to understand words and produce understandable speech.

If this is the only speech area affected, the ability to produce speech overall is preserved, but the sentences often contain nonsense words or words that don’t belong in the sentence. This is also called fluent aphasia .

Non-fluent aphasia

When only Broca’s area is affected, words and speech are still able to be understood, but there’s difficulty communicating fluently.

The result is understandable sentences that are usually shortened and communicated slowly with missing words, also called non-fluent aphasia .

If there’s been an injury to the cerebellum, one result can be dysarthria. This refers to difficulty speaking due to loss of muscle control in the face.

In dysarthria , there are usually difficulties with tongue and lip movements that make it difficult to speak and be understood.

Injuries to the motor cortex can result in a similar scenario as dysarthria. But the difficulty isn’t so much about muscle control as it’s about planning.

In apraxia , the result is difficulty coordinating the movements needed for speech. Speech comprehension and production are unaffected, but the words can come out wrong. For example, instead of “potato” you might say “topato.”

Apraxia can be caused by a stroke or trauma but is often diagnosed in early childhood and sometimes has an unknown cause.

Let’s recap

The planning and production of speech is a complex function controlled by several parts of the brain that all work together. The end result is a fluent and understandable sentence that expresses your thoughts as you intended.

Various communication disorders and speech impairments may be caused by brain injury. If you experience a speech disorder, you may consider speaking with a healthcare professional. They may recommend speech therapy, medication, or a combination of both to help you.

If you’re ready to seek support but don’t know where to start, consider checking out Psych Central’s guide for mental health support.

13 sources collapsed

• Acharya AB, et al. (2022). Wernicke aphasia. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441951/
• Apraxia of speech. (2017). https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/apraxia-speech
• Binder JR. (2015). The wernicke area. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4691684/
• Corballis MC. (2014). Left brain, right brain: Facts and fantasies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3897366/
• Dysarthria (difficulty speaking). (2019). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dysarthria/#:~:text=dysarthria%20%E2%80%93%20difficulty%20speaking%20caused%20by,be%20a%20symptom%20of%20dysarthria
• Floegel M, et al. (2020). Differential contributions of the two cerebral hemispheres to temporal and spectral speech feedback control. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-16743-2
• Knierim J. (2020). Overview: Functions of the cerebellum. . https://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/m/s3/chapter05.html#:~:text=The%20cerebellum%20is%20important%20for,changes%20in%20load%20upon%20muscles
• Marien P, et al. (2015). Consensus paper: Language and the cerebellum: An ongoing enigma. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4090012/
• Miller HE, et al. (2022). Modelling speech motor programming and apraxia of speech in the DIVA/GODIVA neurocomputational framework. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8183977/
• Neef NE, et al. (2015). Speech dynamics are coded in the left motor cortex in fluent speakers but not in adults who stutter. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4408433/
• Ries SK, et al. (2017). Choosing words: left hemisphere, right hemisphere, or both? Perspective on the lateralization of word retrieval. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4874870/
• Speech and language. (n.d.). https://memory.ucsf.edu/symptoms/speech-language
• Stinnett TJ, et al. (2022). Neuroanatomy, Broca Area. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526096/

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The Foundations of Language Processing

• Reviewed 1 May 2023
• Author Marissa Fessenden
• Source BrainFacts/SfN

In mid-19th century France, a young man named Louis Victor Leborgne came to live at the Bicêtre Hospital in the suburbs south of Paris. Oddly, the only word he could speak was a single syllable: “Tan.” In the last few days of his life, he met a physician named Pierre Paul Broca. Conversations with the young man, whom the world came to know as Patient Tan , led Broca to understand that Leborgne could comprehend others’ speech and was responding as best he could, but “tan” was the only expression he was capable of uttering.

After Leborgne died, Broca performed an autopsy and found a large, damaged area, or lesion, in a portion of the frontal lobe. Since then, we have learned that damage to particular regions within the left hemisphere produces specific kinds of language disorders, or aphasias . The portion of the frontal lobe where Leborgne’s lesion was located is now called Broca’s area and is vital for speech production. Further studies of aphasia have greatly increased our knowledge about the neural basis of language.

Broca’s aphasia is also called “non-fluent” aphasia because speech production is impaired but comprehension is mostly intact. Damage to the left frontal lobe can produce non-fluent aphasias, in which speech output is slow and halting, requires great effort, and often lacks complex words or sentence structure. But while their speaking is impaired, non-fluent aphasics still comprehend spoken language, although their understanding of complex sentences can be poor.

Shortly after Broca published his findings, a German physician, Carl Wernicke, wrote about a 59-year-old woman he referred to as S.A., who had lost her ability to understand speech.

Unlike patient Leborgne, S.A. could speak fluently, but her utterances made no sense: She offered absurd answers to questions, used made-up words, and had difficulty naming familiar items. After her death, Wernicke determined that she had damage in her left temporal lobe, now known as Wernicke’s area . This caused her difficulty in comprehending speech, but not producing it, a deficit that is now known as “Wernicke’s aphasia,” or “fluent aphasia.” Fluent aphasic patients might understand short individual words, and their speech can sound normal in tone and speed, but it is often riddled with errors in sound and word selection and tends to be unintelligible.

Another type of aphasia is called “pure word deafness,” which is caused by damage to the superior temporal lobes in both hemispheres. Patients with this disorder are unable to comprehend heard speech on any level. But they are not deaf. They can hear speech, music, and other sounds, and can detect the tone, emotion, and even the gender of a speaker. But they cannot link the sound of words to their corresponding meanings. (They can, however, make perfect sense of written language, because visual information bypasses the damaged auditory comprehension area of the temporal lobe.)

Although Broca’s and Wernicke’s work emphasized the role of the left hemisphere in speech and language ability, scientists now know that recognizing speech sounds and individual words actually involves both the left and right temporal lobes . Nonetheless, producing complex speech is strongly dependent on the left hemisphere, including the frontal lobe as well as posterior regions in the temporal lobe. These areas are critical for accessing appropriate words and speech sounds.

Reading and writing involve additional brain regions — those controlling vision and movement. Sensory processing of written words utilizes connections between the brain’s language regions and the areas that process visual perception. In the case of reading and writing, many of the same centers involved in speech comprehension and production are still essential but require input from visual areas that analyze the shapes of letters and words, as well as output to the motor areas that control the hand.

Insights in Language Research

Although our understanding of how the brain processes language is far from complete, molecular genetic studies of inherited language disorders have provided important insights. One language-associated gene, called FOXP2 , codes for a special type of protein that switches other genes on and off in particular parts of the brain. Rare mutations in FOXP2 can result in FOXP2 -related speech and language disorder: a condition characterized by apraxia of speech, or difficulty coordinating mouth and jaw movements in the sequences required for speech. The disorder is also accompanied by difficulty with spoken and written language starting in early childhood.

Imaging studies have revealed that disruption of FOXP2 can severely affect signaling in the dorsal striatum, part of the basal ganglia located deep in the brain. Specialized neurons in the dorsal striatum express high levels of the product of FOXP2 . Mutations in FOXP2 interrupt the flow of information through the striatum and result in speech deficits. These findings show the gene’s importance in regulating signaling between motor and speech regions of the brain. Changes in the nucleotide sequence of FOXP2 might have influenced the development of spoken language in humans and explain why humans speak and chimpanzees do not.

Remarkably, many insights into human speech have come from studies of birds, where it is possible to induce genetic mutations and study their effects on singing. Just as human babies learn language during a special developmental period, baby birds learn their songs by imitating a vocal model (a parent or other adult bird) during an early critical period. Like babies’ speech, birds’ song-learning also depends on auditory feedback — their ability to hear their own attempts at imitation. Interestingly, studies have also revealed that FOXP2 mutations can disrupt song development in young birds, much as they do in humans.

Functional imaging studies have also identified brain structures not previously associated with language processing. For example, portions of the middle and inferior temporal lobe participate in accessing the meaning of words. In addition, the anterior temporal lobe is being investigated as a potential player in sentence-level comprehension. Researchers have also identified a sensory-motor circuit for speech in the left posterior temporal lobe, which is thought to aid communication between the systems for speech recognition and production. This circuit is involved in speech development and is likely to support verbal short-term memory.

Adapted from the 8th edition of  Brain Facts by Marissa Fessenden.

About the Author

Marissa Fessenden

Marissa Fessenden is a freelance science journalist and illustrator. They gravitate toward stories about genes, wildlife and places large and small, as well as times when art gets science-y or science gets artsy.

CONTENT PROVIDED BY

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