Health Local October 22, 2024

New Insights on Language and Thought Separation

Recent studies indicate that areas of the brain handling language are distinct from those involved in problem-solving and music interaction. Researcher Evelina Fedorenko explains how language functions primarily to communicate thoughts, suggesting separation between language and cognitive processes. This challenges traditional beliefs about the necessity of language for thinking, evidenced by cases of individuals with severe language impairments still capable of complex thought. Her findings contribute to understanding brain function, paving the way for future research in neuroscience and artificial intelligence.


New Insights on Language and Thought Separation

Fidornko, the researcher specializing in neurology from the McGuffin Center for Brain Research affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States, indicated that post-mortem studies showed that the brain regions responsible for language processing differ from those responsible for other functions such as mathematical calculations or interaction with music. During an interview with the Science American site, she explained that she relied on multiple research methods to confirm the theory of language dissociation from cognition. Throughout the experiments, she observed that individuals suffering from language impairments due to damage in the left hemisphere of the brain are still capable of performing tasks that require cognition. Fidornko referred to previous scientific studies that utilized brain imaging during specific task performances, discovering that while solving mathematical problems or memory tests, the brain regions responsible for language remain inactive. She argues that the primary function of language lies in the transfer of thoughts between individuals. Fidornko clarified that the languages spoken by humans evolve in a way that facilitates the transfer of knowledge and ideas across generations. She emphasized the importance of language to cognition amidst technological advancements that allow the measurement of the characteristics of human language. The researcher concluded that there are studies revealing how language and cognition systems interact in the human brain, and that sophisticated computer systems can generate linguistic phrases with clear meaning, which confirms that language is not the only influencing factor in cognitive operations.