What Did Broca And Wernicke Discover?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Paul Broca

What did Paul Broca and Carl Wernicke discover?

When Broca autopsied Tan’s brain, he found a sizable lesion in the left inferior frontal cortex. … Ten years later, Carl Wernicke, a German neurologist, discovered

another part of the brain

, this one involved in understanding language, in the posterior portion of the left temporal lobe.

What did Broca discover?

In 1861 he announced his discovery of

the seats of articulate speech in the left frontal region of the brain

, since known as the convolution of Broca. Thus, he also furnished the first anatomical proof of the localization of brain function.

How were Broca and Wernicke area discovered?


When Tan died, Broca studied his brain and found a lesion (a bruise or yucky spot) on the front of the temporal lobe

. Broca then went and studied other brains of patients who were similar to Tan. This is how he discovered Broca’s area.

What did Wernicke discover?

Carl Wernicke was a German psychiatrist and neurologist. He is best known to speech-language pathologists for his study of

aphasia

and for his discovery of the area in the cerebrum responsible for receptive language/speech phenomena in the superior gyrus of the temporal lobe (Wernicke aphasia).

Who discovered Wernicke’s area?

Wernicke area was first discovered in 1874 by

a German neurologist, Carl Wernicke

. It has been identified as 1 of 2 areas found in the cerebral cortex that manages speech.

Who discovered Broca’s area?

This area, located in the frontal part of the left hemisphere of the brain, was discovered in 1861 by

French surgeon Paul Broca

, who found that it serves a vital role in the generation of articulate speech.

What is Wernicke’s theory?

Wernicke proposed a

theory of localization and suggested that different identifiable regions of the brain control different behaviors and these areas interact to produce more behaviors

. This is the case with Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas interacting to produce language.

What is the difference between Wernicke’s and Broca’s aphasia?

Wernicke’s aphasia

People with this condition have

difficulty with language comprehension

and may have a harder time processing spoken words than those with Broca’s aphasia do. People with Wernicke’s aphasia also display a different type of speech pattern.

Is Wernicke’s German?

Carl Wernicke, (born May 15, 1848, Tarnowitz, Pol., Prussia—died June 15, 1905, Thüringer Wald, Ger.), German neurologist who related

nerve

diseases to specific areas of the brain. He is best known for his descriptions of the aphasias, disorders interfering with the ability to communicate in speech or writing.

Is Wernicke’s area in the frontal lobe?

Structure. Wernicke’s area is traditionally viewed as being located in the

posterior section of the superior temporal gyrus

(STG), usually in the left cerebral hemisphere. This area encircles the auditory cortex on the lateral sulcus, the part of the brain where the temporal lobe and parietal lobe meet.

Why is it called Broca’s area?

The Broca’s area was named after Pierre Paul Broca, a French physician, and anthropologist who discovered that

damage to that part of the brain caused problems in grammatical processing during speech production

, while generally having no negative consequences for language comprehension.

Where is Broca’s and Wernicke’s area?

Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas are cortical areas specialized for production and comprehension, respectively, of human language. Broca’s area is

found in the left inferior frontal gyrus

and Wernicke’s area is located in the left posterior superior temporal gyrus.

Why did Carl Wernicke discover Wernicke’s area?

Wernicke was devoted to examining the brains of these patients. He found lesions in an area located between the temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes, we today know as the Wernicke’s area (2). It was proven that this brain region

is responsible for language comprehension and the production of meaningful speech

.

What causes Wernicke’s aphasia?

Wernicke aphasia is characterized by impaired language comprehension. Despite this impaired comprehension, speech may have a normal rate, rhythm, and grammar. The most common cause of Wernicke’s aphasia is

an ischemic stroke affecting the posterior temporal lobe of the dominant hemisphere

.

What gyrus is Wernicke’s area?

Wernicke’s area, of which the temporal planum is a key anatomical component, is located on

the superior temporal gyrus

, in the superior portion of Brodmann area 22. This is a strategic location, given the language functions that Wernicke’s area performs.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.