Language processing


 * For the processing of language by computers, see Natural language processing.

Language processing refers to the way human beings process speech or writing and understand it as language. Most recent theories back the idea that this process is made completely by and inside the brain.

Spoken language
Acoustic stimuli are received by the auditive organ and are converted to bioelectric signals on the organ of Corti. These electric impulses are then transported through scarpa's ganglion (vestibulocochlear nerve) to the primary auditory cortex, on both hemispheres. Each hemisphere treats it differently, nevertheless: while the left side recognizes distinctive parts such as phonemes, the right side takes over prosodic characteristics and melodic information.

The signal is then transported to Wernicke's area on the left hemisphere (the information that was being processed on the right hemisphere is able to cross through inter-hemispheric axons), where the already noted analysis takes part.

From this area, the signal is taken to Broca's area through what is called the arcuate fasciculus. Broca's area is in charge of interpreting the information provided by Wernicke's area (using the pars triangularis) and transmitting information to the closely located motor-related areas of the brain for production of speech (relying on the pars opercularis).

Written language
Written language works in a fairly similar way, only using the primary visual cortex instead of the auditory.