Why do we have two brain areas responsible for speech?

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In summary, Broca's area is responsible for speech, while the motor cortex is responsible for movement. This is demonstrated by the different functions that these two brain areas have.
  • #1
Eagle9
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Broca's area is responsible for speech, right? It is well-known from the 19-th century.

However, from the other hand human’s brain has the second area responsible for the same function - motor cortex:

klrTu7T.jpg


So please, tell me: why do we need two areas responsible for the same function? Do they collaborate? Or what? :rolleyes:
 
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  • #2
Brain structures evolved over very long periods of time. You cannot always map a particular function to a single brain structure, often many parts of the brain work in tandem. Thinking of the brain as a computer with attached devices is sometimes useful, but in this case it gets you to confusion.

For a simple example: why would certain smells evoke very strong old memories for you? Answer: because olfaction (smell) is very old trait, and other functions in the brain evolved later on to be in the 'path' of interpreting smells and some functional areas branch off into special memory areas.

I like cartoons that get you to think - so what does this say about some older computer application (MS-DOS) that worked well? Can we still use it? Should we change it out only because it is old? (apply this to smell. Or speech -- which evolution added on top of existing functions and connections in the brain)

https://xkcd.com/1891/
 
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  • #3
The primary motor cortex allows you to move your lips, tongue, etc.
Broca's area allows you to express language verbally.
 
  • #4
The muscle execution of these speech patterns is the output - there's a lot of processing that happens before its turned into muscle movements.

Broca's area is currently thought to somehow process and integrate information about the way words are formed and how they work together - it negotiates with both the the frontal cortex and the temporal cortex that are associated with "phonemic sequences" - which are, to oversimplify, series of vocalized syllables.
 
  • #5
jim mcnamara

.Scott

Pythagorean

Thanks, it is clear – more or less :smile:
 

1. Why is Broca's area important?

Broca's area is important because it is responsible for language production and speech articulation. Without Broca's area, individuals would have difficulty forming words and sentences, making communication nearly impossible.

2. What happens if Broca's area is damaged?

If Broca's area is damaged, it can result in a condition known as Broca's aphasia. This can lead to difficulties with speech production, including a limited ability to form coherent sentences and express thoughts. However, individuals with Broca's aphasia can still understand language and may be able to communicate through non-verbal means.

3. How is Broca's area different from Wernicke's area?

Broca's area and Wernicke's area are both important parts of the brain involved in language, but they serve different functions. While Broca's area is responsible for speech production, Wernicke's area is involved in language comprehension. Damage to Wernicke's area can result in Wernicke's aphasia, where individuals have difficulty understanding language but can still produce speech.

4. Is Broca's area only involved in language?

While Broca's area is primarily known for its role in language production, it is also involved in other cognitive functions. Studies have shown that Broca's area is also involved in decision-making, planning, and emotional processing.

5. Can Broca's area change or adapt?

Yes, Broca's area is known to be neuroplastic, meaning it can change and adapt based on experience and learning. For example, studies have shown that individuals who learn a second language have increased activity in Broca's area, suggesting that this area can adapt to new language skills.

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