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- Title
Morphological evolution of language-relevant brain areas.
- Authors
Gallardo, Guillermo; Eichner, Cornelius; Sherwood, Chet C.; Hopkins, William D.; Anwander, Alfred; Friederici, Angela D.
- Abstract
Human language is supported by a cortical network involving Broca's area, which comprises Brodmann Areas 44 and 45 (BA44 and BA45). While cytoarchitectonic homolog areas have been identified in nonhuman primates, it remains unknown how these regions evolved to support human language. Here, we use histological data and advanced cortical registration methods to precisely compare the morphology of BA44 and BA45 in humans and chimpanzees. We found a general expansion of Broca's areas in humans, with the left BA44 enlarging the most, growing anteriorly into a region known to process syntax. Together with recent functional and receptorarchitectural studies, our findings support the conclusion that BA44 evolved from an action-related region to a bipartite system, with a posterior portion supporting action and an anterior portion supporting syntactic processes. Our findings add novel insights to the longstanding debate on the relationship between language and action, and the evolution of Broca's area. What is the relationship between language and action, and do they share a common neural basis? Comparison of the cytoarchitectural subdivisions of Broca's area in humans and chimpanzees reveals that BA44 expanded from a purely action region to a bipartite system, with an action-related posterior section and a syntax-related anterior section.
- Subjects
SOCIAL networks; CHIMPANZEES; PRIMATES
- Publication
PLoS Biology, 2023, Vol 21, Issue 9, p1
- ISSN
1544-9173
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pbio.3002266