Halie Olson
McGovern Institute for Brain Research
MIT

Language in the developing brain

The human brain is unique (at least amongst biological organisms) in its ability to learn, produce, and comprehend language. Language is learned rapidly over the first few years of life, but even before it is fully developed, humans successfully use language to communicate with others. How does the functional architecture of the human brain support linguistic ability, particularly in early development, and how do experiences with language in turn affect brain function? In this talk, I’ll discuss some of my research exploring the neural basis of language processing in development using fMRI in toddlers and children.