The entire brain may be involved in language, not just a few regions

We have misunderstood how the brain processes language, says a controversial new analysis. The brain regions that have been identified as specialised language processing centres are actually hubs that coordinate the processing of language across multiple brain regions, argue Jeremy I. Skipper at University College London and his colleagues.

Their idea runs counter to most models of language in the brain and has been met with scepticism.

Since the late 1800s, there has been growing evidence that specific brain areas …