This book discusses theories that link functions to specific anatomical brain regions. The best
known of these are the Broca and Wernicke regions and these have become synonyms for the
location of productive and receptive language functions respectively. This Broca-Wernicke model
has proved to be such a powerful concept that is remains the predominant view in modern
clinical practice. What is fascinating however is that there is little evidence for this
strictly localist view on language functions. Modern neuroscience and numerous clinical
observations in individual patients show that language functions are represented in complex and
ever-changing neural networks. It is fair to say that the model is wrong and that Broca's and
Wernicke's areas in their classic forms do not exist.This is a fascinating paradox: why do
neurologists and neurosurgeons continue to use these iconic language models in everyday
decision-making? In this book the author uses his background as a neurosurgeon and a
neuroscientist to provide some answers to this question. The book acquaints clinicians and
researchers with the many different aspects of language representation in the brain. It
provides a historical overview of functional localisation as well as insights into the
misjudgements that have kept the localist doctrine alive. It creates an awareness of the need
to integrate clinical observations and neuroscientific theories if we want to progress further
in clinical language research and patient care.
