Synopses & Reviews
The Neuroscience of Language puts forth the first systematic model of language to bridge the gap between linguistics and neuroscience. Neuronal models of word and serial order processing are presented in the form of a computational, connectionist neural network. The linguistic emphasis is on words and elementary syntactic rules. The essence of the work is contained in chapters on neural algorithms and networks, basic syntax, serial order mechanisms, and neuronal grammar. Throughout, exercises illustrate the functioning of brain models of language.
Synopsis
How is language organized in the human brain? This book puts forth the first systematic model of language to bridge the gap between linguistics and neuroscience. Introductory chapters focus on neuronal structure and function, cognitive brain processes, the basics of classical aphasia research and modern neuroimaging of language, neural network approaches to language, and the basics of syntactic theories. Also included are chapters on neural algorithms and networks, basic syntax, serial order mechanisms, and neuronal grammar. Excursuses illustrate the functioning of brain models of language, and a web site with animations is available.
Table of Contents
Preface; 1. A guide to the book; 2. Neuronal structure and function; 3. From aphasia research to neuroimaging; 4. Words in the brain; Excursus E1: Explaining neuropsychological double dissociations; 5. Regulation, overlap, and web tails; 6. Neural algorithms and neural networks; 7. Basic syntax; 8. Serial order mechanisms I: Synfire chains; 9. Serial order mechanisms II: Sequence detectors; 10. Neuronal grammar; Excursus E2: Basic bits of neuronal grammar; Excursus E3: A web response to a sentence; 11. Neuronal grammar and algorithms; 12. Refining neuronal grammar; Excursus E4: Multiple reverberation for resolving lexical ambiguity; Excursus E5: Multiple reverberation and multiple center embeddings; 13. Neurophysiology of syntax; 14. Linguistics and the brain.