Broca's area and Wernicke's area

[IvanJames]

What are their functions?
What are the differences between the two? (Apart from location)

[brenden]

Wernicke's interprets language. So  damage to Wernicke's causes nin sensual language. "Chair impediment over the noisy basket". The interpretation of language is damaged, so they interpret what they're saying as fine, because their interpretation of the language is different to the norm.

You'll notice that Broca's area is close to the primary motor cortex - the latter obviously controls movement. Same for Broca's area - it controls the movement of the muscles around the jaw that are involved with the production of speech. So imagine doing to be dentist and getting anaesthetic all per your face. Afterward you might find speech very difficult. Such is Broca's area. That's why damage to this area doesn't influence ability to reader write. Our ability to understand language is ok, but the part of the brain connecting to the facial muscles isn't. It's the inverse with Wernicke's.


*if I've made a massive blunder someone please correct me. Haven't touched psych in a while, bit rusty.

[pi]

Broca's area - speech production as well as some speech comprehension, Brodmann's area 44, 45

Wernicke's area - interpretation of written and spoken language, Brodmann's area 22 (also 39/40 for some people)

Note: their main functions are on the dominant cerebral hemisphere (usually left)

[Paulrus]

damage to Wernicke's causes nin sensual language. "Chair impediment over the noisy basket".

you're right, i'm not even slightly turned on by that 

wernicke's is also involved in locating and retrieving the right words to use from memory to express meaning iirc, which is why the speech of people with wernicke's aphasia is pretty much meaningless

[pi]

wernicke's is also involved in locating and retrieving the right words to use from memory to express meaning iirc, which is why the speech of people with wernicke's aphasia is pretty much meaningless

That's correct, they believe what they're saying is correct when it really isn't.

[Charmz]

That's correct, they believe what they're saying is correct when it really isn't.

Whereas people with Broca's aphasia are aware of their condition and get frustrated with their inability to articulate themselves.

[#J.Procrastinator]

Broca's area:

- located in left frontal lobe
- speech production
- grammatically correct sentences
- articulate speech
- coordinating movements of the muscles for speech and supplying this info to the appropriate motor cortex areas (eg. mouth, jaws, tongue etc. )
- meanings of words and structure of sentences
- parts of speech such as adjectives, prepositions and conjunctions

Wernicke's area:

- left temporal lobe
- speech comprehension
- interpreting sounds of human speech


People suffering from Broca's aphasia are aware of their condition, whereas sufferer's of Wernicke's aphasia are not consciously aware of their condition. They think what they say makes complete sense. Both types of aphasias are most commonly caused by a stroke.

Hope this helps!

[Charmz]

Interesting fact: People who learn a second language at an early age have the ability to develop a second broca's area. (Doesn't always happen)