4 - The association between hand preference and language lateralization

Summary

This chapter summarizes literature on handedness, language, and cerebral asymmetry as evidenced by lesion and neuroimaging studies. The development of non-invasive techniques has allowed us to determine functional brain asymmetries even in healthy subjects. The chapter comments on the possible origin of dexterity and language lateralization, the individual differences in laterality, as well as the distribution of laterality at the population level. Human brain imaging studies indicate that Broca's area, which is located in the pars opercularis of the inferior frontal gyrus, may be part of the human mirror neuron system as well as the superior temporal sulcus and the inferior parietal lobule. The relation between handedness and language lateralization invites speculation on the underlying neural causes. Lateralization of language functions should aid the processing demands required for a full exhaustion of linguistic capacities.