PHYSIOLOGY OF LANGUAGE.

INTRODUCTION.
• Language can be defined as a
method of human communication,
either spoken or written, consisting
of the use of words in a structured
and conventional way.
• This is one of the highest function of
the brain .
•The facility with which human beings
communicate with one another
distinguishes them from lower
animals.
• TWO (2 ) ASPECTS TO COMMUNICATIONS.

• Sensory aspects ( Language input): Involves

eyes and ears.

• Motor aspects (Language output): Involves

vocalization and its control.
• MECHANISM OF SPEECH (LANGUAGE).
• Speech depends upon coordinated activities of central
speech apparatus and peripheral speech apparatus.

• Central speech apparatus consists of: Higher centers:

That is, the cortical and sub-cortical centers.

• Peripheral speech apparatus includes: Larynx or sound

box, pharynx, mouth, nasal cavities, tongue and lips.

• All the structures of peripheral speech apparatus function

in coordination with respiratory system, with the
influences of motor impulses from respective motor
areas of the cerebral cortex.
• DEVELOPMENT OF SPEECH (LANGUAGE) :
• First Stage
• First stage in the development of speech is the
association of certain words with visual,
tactile, auditory and other sensations, aroused
by objects in the external world.
• Association of words with other sensations is
stored as memory.
•Second Stage:
•New neuronal circuits are established during the
development of speech. When a definite
meaning has been attached to certain words,
pathway between the auditory area (Heschl area;
area 41) and motor area for the muscles of
articulation, which helps in speech (Broca area
44) is established. The child attempts to
formulate and pronounce the learnt words.
• Role of Cortical Areas in the Development of Speech :
• Development of speech (language) involves integration
of three important areas of cerebral cortex:

• WERNICKE’S AREA:
• Wernicke’s area is situated in the upper part of
temporal lobe.

• It sends fibers to Broca’s area through a tract called

ARCUATE FASCICULUS.

• It is responsible for understanding the visual and

auditory information required production of words.
• BROCA’S AREA:
• This is the area where speech is synthesized.
• It is situated adjacent to the motor area
responsible for the movements of the tongue,
lips and larynx which are necessary for
speech.
• Broca’s area develops the pattern of motor
activities required to verbalize the words by
receiving information required for production
of words from Wernicke’s area.
• Thus, the pattern of motor activities is sent to
the motor area.
• MOTOR AREA:
• Motor area activates the peripheral speech
apparatus.

• It results in initiation of movements of tongue,

lips and larynx required for speech.

• Later, when the child is taught to read, auditory

speech is associated with visual symbols (area
18).
• Then, there is an association of the auditory
and visual areas with the motor area for the
muscles of hand.
• Now, the child is able to express auditory and
visual impressions in the form of written
words.
• NERVOUS CONTROL OF LANGUAGE (SPEECH):
• Cortical and sub-cortical areas are involved in
the mechanism of speech.

• Sub-cortical areas concerned with speech are

controlled by cortical areas of dominant
hemisphere.

• In about 95% of human beings, the left

cerebral hemisphere is functionally dominant
and those persons are right handed.
• MOTOR AND SENSORY CORTICAL AREAS
CONCERNED WITH SPEECH INCLUDES:
• MOTOR AREAS:
• Broca’s Area:
• Broca’s area is also called speech center, motor
speech area or lower frontal area. It includes
areas 44 and 45.
• These areas are located in lower part of lateral
surface of prefrontal cortex.
• Broca’s area controls the movements of
structures (tongue, lips and larynx) involved in
vocalization.
• Upper frontal motor area
• This motor area is located in paracentral gyrus
over the medial surface of cerebral hemisphere.

• It controls the coordinated movements

involved in writing.
• Sensory Areas
• Secondary Auditory Area
• Secondary auditory area or audito-psychic
area includes area 22. It is situated in the
superior temporal gyrus.
• It is concerned with the interpretation of
auditory sensation and storage of memories
of spoken words.
• Secondary Visual Area
• Secondary visual area or visuo-psychic area
includes area 18. It is present in angular gyrus
of the parietal cortex.
• This area is concerned with the interpretation
of visual sensation and storage of memories
of the visual symbols.
• Wernicke’s Area:
• Wernicke’s area is situated in the upper part of
temporal lobe. This area is responsible for the
interpretation of auditory sensation.

• It also plays an important role in speech. It is

responsible for understanding the auditory
information about any word and sending the
information to Broca’s area.
 LANGUAGE (SPEECH)DISORDER:
• Language (Speech) disorder is a communication
disorder characterized by disrupted speech.
• There are four types:
1. Aphasia
2. Anarthria or dysarthria
3. Dysphonia
4. Stammering.
• APHASIA
• Aphasia is defined as the loss or impairment of
speech due to brain damage (in Greek,
aphasia = without speech). It is an acquired
disorder .
• Aphasia is not due to paralysis of muscles of
articulation. It is due to damage of speech
centers.
• Damage of speech centers impairs the
expression and understanding of spoken
words.
• It also affects reading and writing. Speech
function is localized to left hemisphere in most
of the people.

• Aphasia may be associated with other speech

disorders, which also occur due to brain
damage.
• CAUSES OF APHASIA:
• Damage of speech centers occurs due to:
• 1. Stroke
• 2. Head injury
• 3. Severe blow to head
• 4. Cerebral tumors
• 5. Brain infections
• 6. Degenerative diseases.
 Head’s classification of aphasia
Type of aphasia
FEATURES

Verbal aphasia Inability in formation of words

Syntactical aphasia Inability to arrange words in proper

sequence

Semantic aphasia Inability to recognize the

significance of words

Nominal aphasia Inability to name the familiar

objects
 Features and causes of different types of
aphasia
Type of aphasia Features Cause

Broca aphasia Non-fluent Lesion in left

speech problem frontal lobe
Wernicke Speech without Lesion in left
aphasia any meaning temporal lobe
Global aphasia Combined Widespread
features of Broca lesion in speech
aphasia areas of left
and Wernicke cerebral
aphasia Hemisphere
 Features and causes of different types of aphasia CONTD .
Nominal aphasia Inability to name the familiar Lesion in posterior temporal
objects and inferior parietal gyri

Motor aphasia Difficulty in uttering individual Defect in pathway between

words left speech center and
Pre-central cortex

Auditory aphasia Inability to understand spoken Lesion in secondary auditory

words area

Visual aphasia Inability to understand written Lesion in secondary visual area

symbols

Agraphia Inability to write Defects in pathway between

cortical areas concerned
with writing
• DYSARTHRIA OR ANARTHRIA
• The term dysarthria refers to disturbed articulation.
• Anarthria means inability to speak.
• Dysarthria or anarthria is defined as the difficulty or
inability to speak due to paralysis or ataxia of muscles
involved in articulation. Psychic aspect of speech is not
affected.
• The spoken and written words are understood.
• Causes of Dysarthria
• Damage of brain or the nerves that control the muscles
involved in speech.
• It occurs in the following conditions:
Stroke, brain injury, degenerative disease like Parkinson
disease and Huntington disease.
• DYSPHONIA:
• Dysphonia is a voice disorder.
• Often, it is characterized by hoarseness and a sore or a
dry throat.
• Hoarseness means the difficulty in producing sound while
trying to speak or a change in the pitch or loudness of
voice. The voice may be weak, breathy, scratchy or husky.
• Causes of Dysphonia are:
1. Trauma of vocal cords
2. Paralysis of vocal cords
3. Lumps (nodules) on vocal cords
4. Inflammation of larynx
5. Hypothyroidism
6. Stress (psychological dysphonia).
• STAMMERING
• Stammering or shuttering is a speech disorder
characterized by hesitations and involuntary
repetitions of certain syllables or words.
• It is also described as a speech disorder in
which normal flow of speech is disturbed by
repetitions, prolongations or abnormal block
or stoppage of sound and syllables.
• It is due to the neurological incoordination of
speech and it is common in children.

• Stammering is associated with some unusual

facial and body movements. Exact cause for
stammering is not known. It is thought that
stammering may be due to genetic factors,
brain damage, neurological disorders or
anxiety.