Podcasts Technology Astral Codex Ten Podcast Wordy Wernicke's

Wordy Wernicke's

Published: June 13, 2020, 9:16 a.m.

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https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/06/11/wordy-wernickes/

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There are two major brain areas involved in language. To oversimplify, Wernicke\\u2019s area in the superior temporal gyrus handles meaning; Broca\\u2019s area in the inferior frontal gyrus handles structure and flow.

If a stroke or other brain injury damages Broca\\u2019s area but leaves Wernicke\\u2019s area intact, you get language which is meaningful, but not very structured or fluid. You sound like a caveman: \\u201cWant food!\\u201d

If it damages Wernicke\\u2019s area but leaves Broca\\u2019s area intact, you get speech which has normal structure and flow, but is meaningless. I\\u2019d read about this pattern in books, but I still wasn\\u2019t prepared the first time I saw a video of a Wernicke\\u2019s aphasia patient (source):

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