ABSTRACT
Language involves many cortical areas and subcortical structures. Listening to words produces activity in the secondary auditory area. Several other areas are involved in language. Other imaging research has shown considerable variability in the areas activated by reading and saying sentences. These involve large areas of the frontal cortex, the upper parts of the temporal lobe, and part of the parietal lobe, all regions of the left cerebral hemisphere. The use of imaging methods has shown that the Wernicke–Geschwind model is too simple, but has not yet produced a clear alternative account of how language is organized in the brain. It is apparent, however, that language involves far more cortical areas, and subcortical structures, than the model proposed. Most cases of Broca's aphasia include damage to the insula. Other areas shown by imaging studies to be involved in aspects of language include the left inferior prefrontal cortex, which is activated during word memory retrieval tasks.
