1. Language Development

2. Food for thought Is language something special evolved in humans?
Are there genes specifically for language?
How does language interact with other functions of the brain and behavior?

3. Phonological Development
Infants appear to perceive phonemes from many if not all languages from birth
By adulthood, people only perceive phonemes from their native language
What happens to allow this narrowing to occur?

4. Categorical perception
Example: Color Perception

5. Review Categorical perception
Example: Color Perception

6. “Filter” hypothesis

7. Possible mechanisms Synaptic plasticity Ideas? Network formation
Experience Expectant or Dependent?
Ideas?

8. Vocabulary Memory Symbol use
Probably involves development of language and higher cognitive areas
Very little is understood about development

9. Syntax/Grammar
Issues: Nativist, language box or acquired, evolved for other reasons and co-opted
Evidence for each

10. Brain areas thought to be involved in language

11. What is language like?
Is language a special “organ” designed for a special purpose
Or, is it an organ that evolved for something else and has been “co-opted” for language?

14. Evidence for “special organ” view
Language seems to be special
It seems to be universal in our species
Infants learn language despite wild perturbations in the environment
Learning theory cannot adequately explain language acquisition

15. Evidence for “co-opted” model
Is there a “language gene”?
Other problems co-occur with language problems
Children with specific language impairment (SLI) have trouble processing rapidly presented non-linguistic temporally ordered information
Language is not localized in the brain early in development (although some precursors are)

16. Pragmatics How does language interact with social behavior?
Language is communication, communication is social
People are inconsistent
Communication requires rapid and flexible responses to contingencies
Aspects of prefrontal cortex are most likely involved in this function

17. The “social” brain