THE HUMAN BRAIN

Objectives

Identify the general structure of the human brain.

Recognize the two hemispheres of the brain.

Identify the differences between right and left hemispheres.

Describe the function of Brocas and Wernickes areas involved in language learning.

Introduction The human brain is by far the most complex and highly organized structure of the body.This organ allows us to think, move, feel, see, hear, taste, and smell. It controls our body, receives, analyzes, and stores information.The brain produces electrical signals, which, together with chemical reactions, let the parts of the body communicate. Nerves send these signals throughout the body.

Cerebrum -The largest division of the brain. It is divided into two hemispheres, each of which is divided into four lobes.

Longitudinal FissureLeft hemisphere Right hemisphere

STRUCTURE OF THE BRAIN

Frontal lobeIt is located deep to the Frontal Bone of the skull. It plays an integral role in the following functions/actions:- Memory Formation- Emotions- Decision Making/Reasoning - PersonalityBrocas Area Controls facial neurons, speech, and language comprehension. Located on Left Frontal Lobe. Brocas Aphasia Results in the ability to comprehend speech, but the decreased motor ability (or inability) to speak and form words.

Parietal lobe It plays a major role in the following functions/actions:- Senses and integrated sensation(s) Spatial awareness and perception

Occipital lobeIts primary function is the: processing, integration, interpretation, VISION and visual stimuli.

Temporal lobeIt plays an integral role in the following functions:Hearing Organization/Comprehension of language Information Retrieval (Memory and Memory Formation) Wernickes Area Language comprehension. Located on the Left Temporal Lobe.- Wernickes Aphasia Language comprehension is inhibited. Words and sentences are not clearly understood, and sentence formation may be inhibited or non-sensical.

Arcuate Fasciculus - A white matter tract that connects Brocas Area and Wernickes Area through the Temporal, Parietal and Frontal Lobes. Allows for coordinated, comprehensible speech. Damage may result in:- Conduction Aphasia - Where auditory comprehension and speech articulation are preserved, but people find it difficult to repeat heard speech.Brocas AreaWernickes Area

Left and Right Hemispheres

Right hemisphereThis deals with different aspects of language.

Associated with right hemisphere functioning is the holistic processing and according to Krashen, this hemisphere is responsible for the storing and processing of formulaic speech.

Left hemisphereThere are two main areas associated with language.

LEFTRIGHT One-at-a time processing.Sequential: A to B to C.Looks at details.Receptive to verifiable aspects of the world.A splitter (distinction is important).Talks, and talks and talks.Knows how Lineal thinking

All-at-once processingSimultaneousLook at the whole Receptive to qualitative aspects of the world (feelings)A lumper (conecctedness is important, puts everything together) Mute ,uses pictures not words.Knows whatMajestic thinking Brains hemispheres

BibliographyUnderstanding Psychology Fourth Edition, Random House School Division.Chapter 43 Integration and control IV: The vertebrate Brain. Theories of Second Language Acquisition Rod EllisTheHuman Brain-HarvardUniversity LS/HHMI High School Science -Multiple Diagrams of theHuman Brain. outreach.mcb.harvard.edu/teachers/Summer05/.../Human_brain.pptwww.bbc.co.uk - BBC homepage the brain

Students Juanita QuevedoValeria Machines

Subject Linguistics II.

Teacher Silvia Borba.

Thank you!!!