Wernicke's area
Wernicke's Area
Wernicke's area (pronounced: VERN-ih-keez) is a region of the brain that is very important for language development. It is named after Carl Wernicke, a German neurologist who discovered its function in the late 19th century.
Etymology
The term "Wernicke's area" is derived from the name of its discoverer, Carl Wernicke. Wernicke was a German neurologist and psychiatrist who made significant contributions to the understanding of the human brain and its functions.
Function
Wernicke's area is located in the superior temporal gyrus in the dominant cerebral hemisphere, which is the left hemisphere in about 95% of right-handed individuals and 70% of left-handed individuals. This area is responsible for the comprehension of speech (while Broca's area is related to the production of speech). Damage to this area can result in language deficits and Wernicke's aphasia, a condition characterized by difficulty understanding spoken and written language.
Related Terms
- Aphasia: A condition that robs you of the ability to communicate. It can affect your ability to speak, write and understand language, both verbal and written. Aphasia typically occurs suddenly after a stroke or a head injury. But it can also come on gradually from a slow-growing brain tumor or a disease that causes progressive, permanent damage (degenerative).
- Broca's area: The brain region controlling language expression, involved in the articulation of speech. Damage to Broca's area results in Broca's aphasia, characterized by partial loss of the ability to produce language, although comprehension generally remains intact.
- Neurology: The branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Neurology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and disease involving the central and peripheral nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue, such as muscle.
- Psychiatry: The medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, study, and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behaviour, cognition, and perceptions.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Wernicke's area
- Wikipedia's article - Wernicke's area
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