Language and Its Place in Nature

Cognition

How the Brain Processes Different Components of Language

Elliot Murphy Ph.D. on May 28, 2024

A recent study unveils the brain regions sensitive to different types of linguistic information.

A recent study unveils the brain regions sensitive to different types of linguistic information.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Language Models Teach Us Nothing About Language

Elliot Murphy Ph.D. on September 4, 2023

Recent neuroscientific research commonly dismisses traditional concepts from linguistic theory, but without anything to put in its place.

Recent neuroscientific research commonly dismisses traditional concepts from linguistic theory, but without anything to put in its place.

Cognition

Symbols and Human Cognition

Elliot Murphy Ph.D. on September 27, 2022

Do humans deploy a similar cognitive architecture for language, music, and geometry?

Do humans deploy a similar cognitive architecture for language, music, and geometry?

Neuroscience

How the Brain Makes Sense of Sentences

Elliot Murphy Ph.D. on March 23, 2022

A new study from Johns Hopkins University explores the brain basis of grammatical comprehension.

A new study from Johns Hopkins University explores the brain basis of grammatical comprehension.

Environment

Getting Rational(ist)

Elliot Murphy Ph.D. on October 4, 2021

Do the categories of rationalist vs. empiricist still have relevance?

Do the categories of rationalist vs. empiricist still have relevance?

Cognition

The Temporal Lobe and Language Development

Elliot Murphy Ph.D. on July 6, 2021

A unique case study reveals that the presence of temporal language areas may be necessary for frontal language areas to develop.

A unique case study reveals that the presence of temporal language areas may be necessary for frontal language areas to develop.

Neuroscience

Neural Responses With (and Without) Rhythm

Elliot Murphy Ph.D. on June 3, 2021

New research brings into question long-held assumptions in cognitive neuroscience.

New research brings into question long-held assumptions in cognitive neuroscience.

Neuroscience

Semantic Predictions and the Waves of Speech

Elliot Murphy Ph.D. on April 19, 2021

How does the brain recruit acoustic information to aid the generation of linguistic predictions?

How does the brain recruit acoustic information to aid the generation of linguistic predictions?

Freudian Psychology

Psychic Life and the Power of Words

Elliot Murphy Ph.D. on April 2, 2021

We are increasingly allowing words to substitute material reality—but do words even have the power to describe the real world adequately?

We are increasingly allowing words to substitute material reality—but do words even have the power to describe the real world adequately?

Neuroscience

Listening to Speech Across the Lifespan

Elliot Murphy Ph.D. on March 17, 2021

Recent research examines how the brain processes speech across different age groups.

Recent research examines how the brain processes speech across different age groups.

Neuroscience

Taking It Slow, But Quickly: How Linguistic Structures Form

Elliot Murphy Ph.D. on March 8, 2021

New research explores how we learn to chunk syllables into larger units and do so rapidly.

New research explores how we learn to chunk syllables into larger units and do so rapidly.

Cognition

How Aging Impacts Language Processing

Elliot Murphy Ph.D. on March 3, 2021

Does age impact how we listen to audiobooks? New research suggests that older adults process language in subtly different ways than younger adults.

Does age impact how we listen to audiobooks? New research suggests that older adults process language in subtly different ways than younger adults.