Wernicke ’s functional neuroanatomy model of language turns 150: what became of its psychological reflex arcs?

AbstractWernicke (Der aphasische Symptomencomplex: Eine psychologische Studie auf anatomischer Basis. Cohn und Weigert, Breslau.  https://wellcomecollection.org/works/dwv5w9rw, 1874) proposed a model of the functional neuroanatomy of spoken word repetition, production, and comprehension. At the heart of this epoch-making model are psychological reflex arcs underpinned by fiber tracts connecting sensory to motor areas. Here, I evaluate the central assumption of psychological reflex arcs in light of what we have learned about language in the brain during the past 150  years. I first describe Wernicke’s 1874 model and the evidence he presented for it. Next, I discuss his updates of the model published in 1886 and posthumously in 1906. Although the model had an enormous immediate impact, it lost influence after the First World War. Unresolved issues included th e anatomical underpinnings of the psychological reflex arcs, the role of auditory images in word production, and the sufficiency of psychological reflex arcs, which was questioned by Wundt (Grundzüge der physiologischen Psychologie. Engelmann, Leipzig.http://vlp.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/references?id=lit46, 1874; Grundz üge der physiologischen Psychologie (Vol. 1, 5th ed.). Engelmann, Leipzig.http://vlp.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/references?id=lit806, 1902). After a long dormant period, Wernicke ’s model was revived by Geschwind (Science 170:940–944.https://doi.org/10.1126/science.170.3961.940, 1970; Selected papers on lang...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - Category: Anatomy Source Type: research