SLIDE 32 MNs and language-use MNs and language-use
« Our Our proposal is that the development proposal is that the development of
the human lateral speech circuit speech circuit is is a a consequence consequence of
- f the fact that the precursor
the fact that the precursor of
Broca Broca’ ’s area s area was endowed was endowed, , before before speech speech appearance appearance, , with with a a mechanism mechanism for for recognizing recognizing actions made by actions made by others
. This mechanism was the mechanism was the neural neural prerequisite prerequisite for for the development the development of
interindividual interindividual communication communication and finally and finally of speech.
We thus view language view language in a more in a more general setting than general setting than one
that sees speech as speech as its complete its complete basis. basis. » ( » (Rizzolatti and Arbib Rizzolatti and Arbib, 1998) , 1998)
Two possible possible interpretations explored interpretations explored by e.g. by e.g. Arbib Arbib (2006), (2006), Fogassi Fogassi & & Ferrarri Ferrarri (2007): (2007):
(1) MN activity activity serves as serves as phylogenetic precursor phylogenetic precursor of
the HLF. HLF.
(2) MN activity activity serves as serves as phylogenetic precursor phylogenetic precursor of
human mindreading inferential ability mindreading inferential ability to to represent agent represent agent’ ’s s communicative intention. communicative intention.