The Broca-Wernicke Doctrine : A Historical and Clinical Perspective on Localization of Language Functions

Geert-Jan Rutten

ISBN 10: 3319546325 / ISBN 13: 9783319546322

Editore: Springer International Publishing, 2017

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Druck auf Anfrage Neuware - Printed after ordering - This book discusses theories that link functions to specific anatomical brain regions. The best known of these are the Broca and Wernicke regions, and these have become synonyms for the location of productive and receptive language functions respectively. This Broca-Wernicke model has proved to be such a powerful concept that is remains the predominant view in modern clinical practice. What is fascinating, however, is that there is little evidence for this strictly localist view on language functions. Modern neuroscience and numerous clinical observations in individual patients show that language functions are represented in complex and ever-changing neural networks. It is fair to say that the model is wrong, and that Broca's and Wernicke's areas in their classic forms do not exist.This is a fascinating paradox: why do neurologists and neurosurgeons continue to use these iconic language models in everyday decision-making In this book, the author uses his background as a neurosurgeon and a neuroscientist to provide some answers to this question.The book acquaints clinicians and researchers with the many different aspects of language representation in the brain. It provides a historical overview of functional localisation, as well as insights into the misjudgements that have kept the localist doctrine alive. It creates an awareness of the need to integrate clinical observations and neuroscientific theories if we want to progress further in clinical language research and patient care.

Codice articolo 9783319546322

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: The Broca-Wernicke Doctrine : A Historical and Clinical Perspective on Localization of Language Functions
• Editore: Springer International Publishing
• Data di pubblicazione: 2017
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 3319546325
• ISBN 13: 9783319546322
• Rilegatura: Buch
• Condizione: Neu

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

This book discusses theories that link functions to specific anatomical brain regions. The best known of these are the Broca and Wernicke regions, and these have become synonyms for the location of productive and receptive language functions respectively. This Broca-Wernicke model has proved to be such a powerful concept that is remains the predominant view in modern clinical practice. What is fascinating, however, is that there is little evidence for this strictly localist view on language functions. Modern neuroscience and numerous clinical observations in individual patients show that language functions are represented in complex and ever-changing neural networks. It is fair to say that the model is wrong, and that Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas in their classic forms do not exist.

This is a fascinating paradox: why do neurologists and neurosurgeons continue to use these iconic language models in everyday decision-making? In this book, the author uses his background as a neurosurgeon and a neuroscientist to provide some answers to this question. 

The book acquaints clinicians and researchers with the many different aspects of language representation in the brain. It provides a historical overview of functional localisation, as well as insights into the misjudgements that have kept the localist doctrine alive. It creates an awareness of the need to integrate clinical observations and neuroscientific theories if we want to progress further in clinical language research and patient care.

Informazioni sull?autore

Geert-Jan Rutten works as a neurosurgeon at the St Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital in Tilburg (the Netherlands), where he has a special interest in brain tumour surgery and functional brain mapping. He is also involved in research that focuses on the relationship between brain, cognition and behaviour in neurosurgical patients.