People need to use both hemispheres to communicate

People need to use both hemispheres when communicating. That was the result of a study published in the journal Nature (UK) on January 15.

This finding may help change treatments for patients with speech impairment due to a stroke.

Previously, neuroscience hypotheses suggested that speech and language were "deviated" skills and were only controlled by one side of the brain, in this case the left hemisphere.

This hypothesis is not entirely convincing because it relies solely on indirect observation, not directly on the mechanism of brain activity.

To get a more comprehensive view, a team of New York University scientists (USA) conducted tests for 16 volunteers.

Photo: illumine.co.uk

Scientists use implant electrodes to map brain activity of participants.

This method is called electrocorticogram - often used before surgery for epilepsy patients. It gives more accurate results than 3D scanners in determining the time and place where neurons are stimulated.

Volunteers are required to repeat nonsense words such as "pob" and "kig" to separate the activated brain regions while speaking - the pronunciation of words.

Because the words do not mean that another part of the brain has been used to create word pronunciation instead of the brain area used for language - which requires understanding and usage of words.

In fact, 3D images show the ability to say "symmetrical" , meaning that areas in both hemispheres are used in creating words.

Specific areas are the symmetrical lower forehead, the lower extremities, the temporal, the pre-mobilization and the vegetative sensory cortex.

Professor Bijan Perasan, who participated in the study, emphasized research results "reversing what was previously accepted by the world". Perasan said the results could open therapies to help restore the speech capacity of patients with stroke or brain damage.