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Speech and gesture are mediated by independent systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 August 2005

Anna M. Barrett*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology and Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA17033
Anne L. Foundas*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, New Orleans, LA70115http://www.som.tulane.edu/neurograd/foundahm.htm#Foundas
Kenneth M. Heilman*
Affiliation:
College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL32610; North Florida South Georgia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL32610

Abstract:

Arbib suggests that language emerged in direct relation to manual gestural communication, that Broca's area participates in producing and imitating gestures, and that emotional facial expressions contributed to gesture-language coevolution. We discuss functional and structural evidence supporting localization of the neuronal modules controlling limb praxis, speech and language, and emotional communication. Current evidence supports completely independent limb praxis and speech/language systems.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

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