The language network

Learning goals for this unit

Brain anatomy

Identify gyri, sulci, white matter, and grey matter on a brain cross-section
Identify coronal, axial, and sagittal views of the human brain and tell which way a brain is “facing” on each view
State the main regions of the brain that are involved in language processing, using neuroanatomical and directional terms, and locate these regions on saggital, coronal, and axial slices of the brain

The toolbox

Explain in simple terms what is measured by fMRI studies
Explain the logic of the subtraction method
Given a figure showing brain activation in an fMRI study:
1. State which view of the brain is being shown
2. Indicate which way the brain is “facing”
3. Explain what the colors represent
Use a brain atlas to translate between XYZ coordinates and anatomical landmarks

Scientific explanation

Distinguish evidence, inferences, and ideas in scientific text
Describe three scientific results from the 20th century (from lesion or brain imaging studies) that required scientists to expand and/or revise the classical model of language in the brain. For each result, be sure to (a) clearly describe the evidence, (b) explain why the evidence required revisions to the model, (c) state a new/revised inference that is supported by the result, and (d) explain why the evidence supports the new/revised inference.
For the following claim, (a) describe scientific evidence from studies of aphasia (Hickok et al., 1998) and brain imaging (Neville et al., 1998) that supports the claim; (b) explain why the evidence supports the claim; and (c) explain why this matters for theories of language in the brain.
- The neural organization of language is similar for spoken and signed languages.

Date	Topic	Due
Thurs 9/24	Brain imaging methods	SGN p. 25-27; 31-34 Understanding fMRI [Video], 17:18-28:46
Friday 9/25		Suggestion: Start working on your secondary sources
Tues 9/29	Tour of CFMI (directions)
Thurs 10/1	Experimental design in fMRI studies	Binder et al. 1997 p. 353-355 (Abstract, Introduction, Materials and Methods)
Friday 10/2		Secondary sources
Tues 10/6	Understanding brain activation results
Thurs 10/8	Updating the classical model	Binder et al. 1997 p. 357-362 (Discussion)
Friday 10/9		Primary sources
Tues 10/13	Sign language in the brain	Neville et al. 1998
Thurs 10/15	Scientific explanation	Hickok et al. 1998
Friday 10/16		Summary #1
Tues 10/20	Visit anatomy lab
Thurs 10/22	Exam #2	EXAM
Friday 10/23		Nothing due