Exam 2- Language Flashcards
The basal nuclei have been implicated in a variety of neural disorders. Which disorders are associated with dysfunctions of the basal nuclei?
Parkinson’s, OCD, Huntington’s, Tourette’s
What causes Parkinson’s disease?
The degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (where dopamine is secreted)
What is the HVC? How do each of the four Rs relate to the formation of song memories in the HVC?
In a bird’s brain, electrical signals travel from HVC to RA to nXII, converting to sounds by the syrinx.
* HVC- controls muscles in the airways of birds
Reweighting- enables memory storage through the strengthening of synapses. Since HVC neurons are activated through random sequences, it supports the strengthening of connections.
Reconnection- eliminates weak HVC synapses not involved in the synaptic chain
Regeneration- when singing season ends for birds, neurons are eliminated, causing HVC to shrink. When singing season starts again, new neurons are created, causing HVC to expand.
Rewiring- HVC neurons branches grow and retract depending on their connections with other neurons
Review your notes on the four language case studies. These case studies are posted in the Week 6 Learning Materials module on Canvas. **
Case A Stuttering- Stutterers have a problem with damaged white matter
-White matter helps with insulation and speeds up the current of these connections
Case B The Bilingual Brain- Bilingual French man got into an accident that affected left part of the skull and lost French language even though it is his first language.
-He kept English because it was the primary language in adulthood
-White matter is affected because of its connections to each region
Case C Missing Left Temporal Lobe- Girl has problem with spelling, but can speak fine.
-Missing part of Wernicke’s area and both sides of the brain are still active
-Left frontal lobe functions
Case D Language Deprivation- 51 year old deaf man learned sign language at 21 and struggled to communicate
-He missed the critical period for learning language at a young age; couldn’t form sentences
-His brain remapped/rewired the way language is processed
Which brain areas are associated with song learning and song production in songbirds?
Song Learning- LMAN & Area X
Song production- HVC (identifying song types by special types of neurons) & RA (testosterone important for song production)
-Fiber tract (located in brain stems)
Review your notes on the video clip about bird song and human language.
What skill comes naturally to young children?
The ability to listen and absorb language – repeat sounds
Why is it a compliment to be called a bird brain?
Bird brains are rather complex and are similar to human learning tendencies
Why do we study bird song?
To understand human language (similar organization of vocal/speech pathways in birds & humans)
How does zebra finch song differ from canary song?
Zebra finch can only learn on song but canaries learn a song every season
How do birds use song in the wild?
Male court other female birds
Mark territory
Scare off other birds
How has the elegance of bird song influenced classical music?
Bird songs inspired classical music
Used as melodies
How are bird and human brains similar?
Bird brain processes and produces sounds the same way human brains process and produce sounds
Both have cerebral brain areas that connects the process and production of sound
How is stuttering studied in zebra finches and what did they find?
The brain does not activate the same way as non-stuttering birds do
-there is less activation in song processing regions
How does human stuttering affect brain activity?
There is less brain activity in the area that processes sounds – white matter is damaged
What is the function of the FoxP2 gene in humans and songbirds?
FoxP2 = the “language” gene
Increases when learning (enables cells to produce more protein) and decreases when finished learning
Influences a way a bird learns a song
