Research into how the brain works keeps shedding new light on how people acquire and use language.
The cerebellum, in the base of the brain, is mostly known for its role in controlling things like movement and coordination, but new research shows that it is also very important when it comes to language.
Researcher Jeremy Schmahmann of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston shows that the cerebellum is deeply involved in language processing and, intriguingly, that it does not appear to be involved in understanding and using mathematics. In research subjects, specific spots in the cerebellum lit up when they engaged with language, but not numbers.
This early-stage research will have implications for understanding language acquisition, multilingualism, and the impact of brain injury on people’s ability to communicate.
Photo Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-close-up-of-a-human-brain-on-a-black-background-ii6BOPjAtVY
