Left hemisphere damaged – right takes over language functions
Which parts of the brain will be activated during comprehension of English sentences in people with damages in the left hemisphere? To answer this question a team of brain scientists at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh close two “after – stroke” people in non-invasive fMRI machine.
Scans showed that brain function associated with language run away from the stroke-damaged area to the corresponding area on the opposite side of the brain.
The adjustment can begin within a day or two after the stroke, and can continue for many months.
More specific, the right sides of their brains (the right-hand homologue of Broca’s area or of Wernicke’s area) were activated during the sentence comprehension, at about the same time as the patients’ ability to process language which was coming back to them.
Notice that adult’s brains were examined.
No so far ago the fast recovery of the ability to use language network was attributed to the possibility of healing, like reduction of swelling in the brain.
But “healing” after a brain damage occurs at a high level of organization. It shows incredible brain’s plasticity even in adulthood.
People very often generalize that left hemisphere is responsible for language functions. But the true is that in healthy brains – both are, just one play a dominant role. The right hemisphere can also be the chief in some people (not only after left hemisphere damage). The subordinate side, usually play just understudy role and develop its own specializations.
http://www.neuroskills.com/tbi/pr-plasticity.shtml
