Broca’s Area Definition

A French doctor was the first to associate Broca’s area with language understanding. It is opposite the dominant hand in the frontal lobe of the dominant hemisphere of the brain. Broca’s region was formerly assumed to be exclusively for producing speech, but it is now recognised to aid our comprehension of spoken words, gestures, speech fluidity, and interpretation of others’ actions.

Broca’s Area Function

When we consider the impact of Broca aphasia, the role of Broca’s region or Broca area becomes evident; phasia is the Greek name for speech, and the addition of the prefix a implies the lack of speech. Broca aphasia is also known as expressive aphasia, which gives us more information on how this part of the brain works. When part or all of Broca’s region is injured, such as by chronic inflammation, age-related degeneration, stroke, tumour, or trauma, certain symptoms emerge that affect our capacity to interact and comprehend others.

Symptoms range from moderate (dysphasia) to severe (aphasia) (aphasia). Sudden trauma generally results in quick and severe symptoms. However, degenerative factors might cause symptoms to develop over time. In the correct circumstances, the brain may transmit Broca’s area functions to other areas. I’ll go into more detail about this later.

The majority of right-handed individuals contain Broca’s area on the left side, and vice versa. The remainder of the frontal cortex, the basal ganglia, the cerebellum, and the opposite hemisphere of the brain are all related to this region of the frontal lobe. As a result, injury to Broca’s region may cause a wide variety of symptoms.

Broca’s region, like the rest of the central nervous system, never creates an impact on its own. We should always conceive of the brain’s operations as a chain reaction, in which each set of neurons analyses incoming data before moving it on to the next group of cells in a slightly modified form. When seen in this light, Broca’s region may be thought of as a critical gear in the intricate machine that governs our brain’s language organising network.

The language organisation network’s most active regions are in the dominant hemisphere of the temporal lobe, but Broca’s area is an excellent illustration of how this network is dispersed across the brain. Broca’s region is found in the frontal lobe’s inferior (lower) posterior (rear) part, adjacent to the speech centres and auditory canal. It is divided into two Brodmann regions – 44 and 45 – and contains specific cell types. Brodmann areas (BAs) are specialised nerve tissue regions that have been mapped throughout time to provide a different perspective on the brain.

Whereas our fresh knowledge suggests that such numbered divisions aren’t as well-defined as they were in our anatomy books, they are still useful for locating the locations of crucial processes. For instance, BA 44, is a cluster of specialised cells proximal to the motor areas of the mouth and tongue that are strongly associated with language creation and expressive language.

However, when we listen to music and analyse grammar, this region is active on MRI imaging. This merely goes to demonstrate that the brain’s extraordinarily complex structure still has a lot to teach us. BA 45 is important, but it is not the primary cause of verbal memory, fluency, and meaning.

The arrangement of language in the brain is not a straightforward issue. To offer meaning, comprehension, and effective communication with other people and animals, each channel must be linked. We learn new terms and classify them on a basic level before moving on to subcategories. We use memory to retain distinct words and their myriad connections so that we may build whole sentences by tying groupings of words together.

We combine visual and verbal information with olfactory information to view a rose, identify it by shape, colour, fragrance, and name, and remember the term. If your first memory of a rose involves being severely damaged by a particularly horrible thorn, your connections may vary from those who have pleasant memories. As in the case of koumpounophobia, some phrases might make you physically unwell. At least in part, Broca’s region has a role in this peculiar event. If you’re curious about koumpounophobia, have a look at this brief article.

Phonetics and phonology are two broad categories used to classify languages. The study of the processes that create and transmit speech sounds is known as phonetics. Phonology is the study of how a speaker is interpreted in respect of syntax, semantics, and pragmatics (the social use of language for communication purposes). All of these procedures include Broca’s region.

Although much study has been done on Broca’s area function, our understanding of it is still relatively limited. Broca’s region was formerly assumed to simply have a role in language creation. However, we currently understand that it is essential for both verbal and written word understanding. Stuttering in Broca’s region has been associated with stuttering in other studies, where it seems to be underactive. This little area of the brain is also related to gesturing to improve our chances of expressing a message (the fish was this huge!). This isn’t surprising since Broca’s region is located immediately adjacent to the motor cortex.

Broca’s region duties also include remembering previous movements. Finding your keys is an example of mentally retracing your actions. The discovery that Broca’s region regulates motor-memory function in some manner has prompted further research. Although it is today commonly acknowledged that this field is vastly more than a component of the linguistic processing network, we still don’t know how much this section of the brain can do.

Broca’s area functions may, however, be taken up by other areas of the brain if required. Surgery was performed on a right-handed patient with a left frontal brain tumour to remove the tumour as well as Broca’s region. Surprisingly, the patient was still able to communicate following surgery. It’s been argued that the tumor’s gradual development allowed the brain time to adapt and allowed other parts of the brain to take control.

The capacity of the brain to regenerate, or brain plasticity, is a hot issue. The brain may heal when the causes of brain degeneration are eliminated. We observe this in stroke patients, where certain talents return quickly but others take longer to recover as the brain repairs. Others never come back.

Numerous studies have documented the contributions of Broca’s region to working memory, calculation, music processing, gesturing, imagination, observation, execution, imitation, and recognition, in addition to the language-processing aspects of phonology, semantics, syntax, speech perception, and speech production. Broca’s region is a link in a wider network or a gear in a gigantic engine, and it cannot operate independently.

Language Processing Areas

In terms of speech, the function of Broca’s region is reliant on the functioning of other structures. In a substantial way, Broca’s region in the dominant frontal lobe is linked to Wernicke’s area in the dominant temporal lobe. Wernicke’s region is divided into three areas that react to our own or others’ spoken words, process any form of sound, and help us produce speech. Wernicke’s region is also linked to spoken or remembered sound or word sequences.

The supramarginal gyrus, a section of the brain that is extremely strongly linked to all areas involved in speech and comprehension, including Broca’s area, is another crucial location for language processing. The supramarginal gyrus seems to be crucial in articulation. The angular gyrus and the posterior cingulate gyrus are two more gyri (brain folds) that are critical for our use of semantics. These gyri receive input from the ears, eyes, and skin, allowing us to name things and sensations.

Although Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas are widely thought to be the brain’s principal speech production centres, injury to any speech-related region is likely to result in speech difficulties. For example, if the angular gyrus is destroyed, it may be difficult to write, to distinguish right from left, and, curiously enough, to determine whether a pair of fingers belongs to oneself or to a stranger. Gerstmann syndrome is a collection of symptoms associated with angular gyrus injury.

Wernicke’s aphasia may be caused by damage to Wernicke’s region (receptive aphasia). The individual has a good command of the English language, yet he or she uses the incorrect terms. He or she will understand precisely what they are talking about; but, whomever is listening will think it is foolishness.

Broca’s region lesions result in stuttering speech due to a lack of adequate sentence structure and syntax. Broca aphasia is the name given to a combination of symptoms that occur together. Further down, Broca aphasia is discussed in further depth. For real examples of the differences in speaking style caused by Wernicke’s and Broca’s regions injuries, go to this university page and click on the respective tabs.

Broca Aphasia

Broca aphasia, also known as non-fluent or expressive aphasia, is a distressing speech and semantic condition. Individuals can only grasp extremely short, basic phrases; to locate the proper word, they must stop and start their speech. The individual will usually just use three or four words per phrase.

Broca’s aphasia has ramifications that reach beyond language. Because of its closeness to the motor cortex, right-sided weakness (in people who are right-handed) is prevalent. When the flow of oxygen and glucose to this section of the brain is cut off – as it is after a stroke – large areas of the frontal and temporal lobes may be damaged. The degree and breadth of symptoms are determined by the regions that have been affected.

Broca aphasia causes a person to talk in a very simple manner. ‘There are two horses in the field,’ for example, may be replaced with ‘horse horse two field.’ The phrase “horse” is repeated to signify an extra number clue. This also demonstrates a close link between mathematics and communication. Unlike people with Wernicke’s aphasia, people with Broca aphasia are almost always aware of the limits of their communication system. Both kinds can comprehend what others are saying, particularly when basic statements are uttered slowly.

References

• Brazis P W, Masdeu J C, Biller J. (2007). “Localization in Clinical Neurology”. New York, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• Stinnett T J, Reddy V, Zabel M K. (Updated 2020) “Neuroanatomy, Broca Area”. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526096/
• Acharya A B, Wroten M. (Updated 2019). “Broca Aphasia”. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436010/
• Ardila A, Bernal B, Rosselli M. (Feb 2016) “How Localized are Language Brain Areas? A Review of Brodmann Areas Involvement in Oral Language”. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology. Vol 31 (1), 112–122. https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acv081