Neuropsychological Roots of Language

Evolutionary Advantages of Humans (1)
Abstract thinking.
Humans have “conceptual minds”
making generalizations;
forming analogies;
seeing linkages which go beyond surface characteristics.
Anatomical substrate:
Larger areas of association cortex (tertiary areas).
They does not receive direct input from sensory organs but rather perceive conceptual similarities.

Essentialism - all known things and concepts have an essential reality behind them (an "Idea" or "Form"), an essence that makes those things and concepts what they are.

"one of the most exciting ideas in cognitive science is the theory that people have a default assumption that things, people and events have invisible essences that make them what they are. Experimental psychologists have argued that essentialism underlies our understanding of the physical and social worlds, and developmental and cross-cultural psychologists have proposed that it is instinctive and universal. We are natural-born essentialists.“ (Paul Bloom, 2010)

Evolutionary Advantages of Humans (2)
Fast pattern-recognition.

Fast pattern-recognition
Larger Thalamus
More asymmetrical brain (left vs right hemisphere processing)
Parallel processing of an information

Evolutionary Advantages of Humans (3)
Processing of complex social information and emotional expressions
More folds and fissures leading to more compact use of neurons and greater opportunity for cross-communication
Von Economo (“spindle”) neurons

Processing of complex social information

Von Economo (“spindle”) neurons – “Brain Cells for Socializing”
Unique polar shaped morphology;
Found in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the fronto-insular cortex (FI) and in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of humans;
Functions: quick social information processing (from planning and self-awareness to role playing and deception).

Evolutionary Advantages of Humans (4)
Ability to inhibit inappropriate (but seductive and previously reinforced) behavior.

Prefrontal Cortex
Inhibition of inappropriate behavior
Free will
Deception and pretending

Evolutionary Advantages of Humans (5)
“Time-traveling”: Projecting ourselves forward and backward in time, anticipating of results of current action and modifying behavior accordingly.

Orbito-frontal prefrontal cortex
Future
Monitoring of action performance
Comparing strategy with the goal.
Inhibition of inappropriate behavior
Dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex
Past
Working memory
Taking into account previous experience
Planning of action
Spontaneity, humor, unpredicted steps, artistic features
“Time-Traveling Machine”

Evolutionary Advantages of Humans (6)
Creating new images in our mind (mental synthesis, fantasy)

“Neurology of Fantasy”
Default mode network is a network of brain regions that are active when the individual is at wakeful rest.
It is negatively correlated with brain systems that focus on external visual signals.
Its subsystems include part of the medial temporal lobe for memory, part of the medial prefrontal cortex for theory of mind, and the posterior cingulate cortex for integration, along with the adjacent ventral precuneus and the medial, lateral and inferior parietal cortex
Alzheimer's disease, autism, PTSD and schizophrenia decreases default mode activity, meditation and psychotherapy – improves it.

Default-Mode Networks (DMN)

Upper Paleolithic Revolution
50 000 years ago Homo sapiens began to demonstrate an ability to use complex symbolic thought and express cultural creativit

Evolutionary Advantages of Humans (7)
Reciprocal Altruism

Evolutionary Advantages of Humans (8)
Flexible, Hierarchical and Grammatical

The Origins of Language
“Pooh-pooh” theory:
Language evolved from noises associated with strong emotions

The Origins of Language
“Bow-Wow” Theory:
Speech arose through people imitating the sounds of environment, especially animal calls, the use of onomatopoeic words

The Origins of Language
“Yo-He-Ho” Theory:
Speech evolved from sounds made to resonate with natural sounds

The Origins of Language
“Sing-Song” Theory:
Language evolved from noises made while playing or dancing

Modern Theories of Language
Language as a combination of 4 abilities:
The ability to categorize. Categorization makes it easier not only to perceive the information but to store and retrieve it. Categorization is a hierarchical process.
Example:
animal → bird → waterfowl → duck
Anatomy: upper temporal fissure

2. The ability to label categories.
Words are ultimate categorizers.
Anatomy of “labeling”:
Inferior temporal lobe

3. The ability to sequence behavior.
Sequencing means ordering certain types of movements to make syllables.
Anatomy: Left-hemisphere lesions are associated with deficits in the repetition of limb movements and oral movements.
So, left hemisphere does selection and ordering of both: speech and nonspeech movements.

4. The ability to mimic.
Anatomy:
“mirror neurons” in frontal cortex discharge both when the monkey makes a movement and when it observes somebody else making movements.
Speech areas of the left hemisphere contain “mirror neurons” as well.

Genetic studies of speech development
“Developmental” genes which help to regulate lots of other genes. They are activated early (prenatally) and provide prompted growth of the brain.
FoxP2-gene, expresses in cells, related to language areas (7q31).
HAR1-gene (Human Accelerated Region Gene).
ASPM.
Microcephal gene.