The Brain's Language Network: Cognitive Foundations of Linguistic Processing

Authors

  • Felicia Goh Min Department of Neurolinguistics, Faculty of Linguistics, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64229/bqh6mg56

Keywords:

Language Network, Neurolinguistics, Cognitive Neuroscience, Syntax, Semantics, Broca's Area, Wernicke's Area, Executive Control

Abstract

Human language is a uniquely complex cognitive faculty that relies on a specialized, distributed neural network. This article provides a comprehensive synthesis of current research on the cognitive and neural underpinnings of linguistic processing. Moving beyond classical left-hemisphere-centric models, we elaborate on the division of labor within the core perisylvian language network and its interactions with domain-general cognitive systems. We detail the neurocognitive pathways for speech perception, from auditory analysis in the superior temporal gyrus to phonological and lexical access. The article then explores the neural substrates of semantic representation, emphasizing the role of the ventral pathway and distributed, modality-specific hubs. Syntactic processing is examined through the lens of a dorsal stream, linking auditory input to articulatory representations, and the distinct contributions of regions like Broca's area. We further integrate evidence on the dynamic, oscillatory basis of language comprehension and production. Crucially, the review highlights the indispensable roles of executive control, memory systems, and the right hemisphere in managing discourse, pragmatics, and non-literal meaning. Finally, we discuss methodological advances-from lesion studies to multimodal neuroimaging and computational modeling-that continue to refine our understanding. The paper concludes that linguistic processing is an emergent property of a densely interconnected, hierarchically organized, and dynamically oscillating brain network, firmly grounded in domain-general cognitive principles.

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Published

2025-11-28

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Felicia Goh Min (Author)

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