Mind & Matter Neural Basis of Language in the Human Brain | Ev Fedorenko | 182
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Oct 19, 2024 Ev Fedorenko, a neuroscientist at MIT, delves into the intricate relationship between language, thought, and the brain. She explores the fascinating dynamics of language processing and its neural networks. The discussion touches on Noam Chomsky's Universal Grammar theory, the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, and the differences in language acquisition between children and adults. Fedorenko also challenges the distinctions between human and animal communication, revealing how language reflects complex cognitive processes while examining ambiguities that aid in learning and communication.
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Language as Social Convention
- Language is a code of social conventions to refer to objects, actions, and mental states.
- It enables communication of complex thoughts and emotions through shared symbolic mappings.
Language Enables Cultural Knowledge
- Human language differs from animal communication partly by reflecting more sophisticated thoughts.
- Language allows preservation and social transfer of knowledge, fueling civilization's growth.
Aphasia Shows Language-Cognition Separation
- Severe aphasia wipes out language comprehension and production but spares other reasoning abilities.
- Patients maintain skills like math, chess, music, and social reasoning despite language deficits.