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Article 2362 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: geb@speedy.cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Scaled up slug brains
Message-ID: <12805@pitt.UUCP>
Date: 22 Dec 91 15:07:31 GMT
References: <12781@pitt.UUCP> <45115@mimsy.umd.edu> <4000@litchi.bbn.com>
Sender: news@cs.pitt.edu
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Computer Science Dept., University of Pittsburgh
Lines: 35

In article <4000@litchi.bbn.com> cbarber@bbn.com (Chris Barber) writes:
>
>The point should also be made here that the hemisperic differentiation
>in humans is not always the same. A small but significantly large percentage
>of people have language functions localized in the right hemisphere and some
>even have language function spread over both hemispheres. I believe there
>is also some evidence that there is a difference in distribution when 
>language is acquired later than normal.  This suggests that these areas
>of language "specialization" are more likely the result of the brain adapting
>to language use as opposed to their being totally prewired for language. 
>
>Aside: Does anybody know of any studies that link variations in the
>hemispheric location of language to variations in personality or language
>ability?

The correlation seems to be mainly with handedness.  It is a rare
right hander that will have language in the right brain, but it 
does happen in a few cases.  The brain is certainly prewired to
a certain extent.  Language acquisition is a function of the
brain being exposed to language at the proper time in brain development.
If we wait too long, the child will have great difficulty acquiring
language.  Likewise, it is more difficult for most people to learn
another language as an adult.  But when they do, it still goes on
the same side as the native language.  In fact, the second language
is more fragile neurologically than the native language.  A stroke
may well wipe out the second language and leave the patient speaking
only the native language, although usually they have some difficulty
with that also.  (Selective language knock-out is unusual, however.
In most aphasic strokes, both languages are affected.)

--
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Gordon Banks  N3JXP        | "When in danger, or in doubt
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu     |  Run in circles, scream and shout" --Heinlein
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