Cognitive Neuroscience of Language

Cognitive Neuroscience of Language provides an up-to-date, comprehensive, and student-friendly survey of the most important developments in the field of language and the brain. It guides readers through the major areas of investigation, making complex concepts accessible to students and anyone interested in cognitive neuroscience and linguistics.

The book begins by introducing the structure and function of the human brain and aphasia syndromes in Parts I and II. Parts III to VI then examine prominent theoretical models that explain different aspects of language at both the cognitive and neurobiological levels. These chapters demonstrate how experimental evidence from various brain-mapping techniques supports, refines, and sometimes challenges existing theories of language processing.

To help readers understand the scientific process, the book describes many research studies in detail, explaining their objectives, methods, findings, and implications. This approach allows readers to see not only how empirical research is conducted but also how it contributes to the ongoing development of theories in cognitive neuroscience.

This revised edition incorporates the latest research and advances in the field. Several chapters have been extensively updated, including those covering speech perception, speech production, object nouns, action verbs, abstract words, sentence comprehension, discourse, and reading and writing. A new chapter on the bilingual brain has also been added to reflect the rapid growth of research on bilingualism. In addition, the book has been reorganized so that chapters on reading, writing, sign language, and bilingualism are grouped together in the final section, while remaining suitable for independent reading.

Although the subject matter is academically rigorous, no prior knowledge of neuroscience or linguistics is required. Technical terms and key concepts are introduced and explained throughout the book, making it an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone interested in understanding how the brain processes language.