Should Broca's area include Brodmann area 47?

Psicothema. 2017 Feb;29(1):73-77. doi: 10.7334/psicothema2016.11.

Abstract

Background: Understanding brain organization of speech production has been a principal goal of neuroscience. Historically, brain speech production has been associated with so-called Broca’s area (Brodmann area –BA- 44 and 45), however, modern neuroimaging developments suggest speech production is associated with networks rather than with areas. The purpose of this paper was to analyze the connectivity of BA47 ( pars orbitalis) in relation to language .

Method: A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the language network in which BA47 is involved. The Brainmap database was used. Twenty papers corresponding to 29 experimental conditions with a total of 373 subjects were included.

Results: Our results suggest that BA47 participates in a “frontal language production system” (or extended Broca’s system). The BA47 connectivity found is also concordant with a minor role in language semantics.

Conclusions: BA47 plays a central role in the language production system.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Broca Area / anatomy & histology*
  • Connectome*
  • Humans
  • Language*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Organ Specificity
  • Prefrontal Cortex / anatomy & histology*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiology
  • Semantics
  • Speech / physiology*