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Evaluating evidence for the cortical localization for language: Systematic reviews in the 1860s and 1870s.

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Title: Evaluating evidence for the cortical localization for language: Systematic reviews in the 1860s and 1870s.
Authors: Lorch, Marjorie (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of the History of the Neurosciences. Oct-Dec2025, Vol. 34 Issue 4, p543-560. 18p.
Subjects: Brain function localization, Language & languages, Cerebral dominance, Frontal lobe, Diagnosis, Aphasia
Abstract: The specialization of cortical function for language was proposed by Paul Broca (1824–1880) in 1861 and further elaborated to include the principle of hemispheric lateralization in 1865. Broca and other French colleagues argued for and against these hypotheses, employing clinical and pathological observations of individuals with acquired language disorders as evidence. These ideas became a topic of widespread interest after the debates at the Paris Academy of Medicine in 1865 were reported internationally. During this period until the end of the decade, hundreds of publications appeared on the localization and laterality of findings in aphasic individuals and case series. Several large-scale systematic reviews of historic (pre-1861) and contemporary (post-1861) clinical findings were published only a few years after the syndrome had been proposed. These aimed to determine the strength and quality of evidence regarding the specialization and lateralization of brain areas for language. However, their authors held distinct theoretical assumptions and ideological concerns and were motivated by varied research questions. These comprehensive efforts using systematic review methodology to assess the evidence for and against hypotheses about the organization of language in the brain are examined to expose the issues of live debate in early neuroscience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of the History of the Neurosciences is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Evaluating evidence for the cortical localization for language: Systematic reviews in the 1860s and 1870s.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+the+History+of+the+Neurosciences%22">Journal of the History of the Neurosciences</searchLink>. Oct-Dec2025, Vol. 34 Issue 4, p543-560. 18p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Brain+function+localization%22">Brain function localization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+%26+languages%22">Language & languages</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cerebral+dominance%22">Cerebral dominance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Frontal+lobe%22">Frontal lobe</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diagnosis%22">Diagnosis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aphasia%22">Aphasia</searchLink>
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  Data: The specialization of cortical function for language was proposed by Paul Broca (1824–1880) in 1861 and further elaborated to include the principle of hemispheric lateralization in 1865. Broca and other French colleagues argued for and against these hypotheses, employing clinical and pathological observations of individuals with acquired language disorders as evidence. These ideas became a topic of widespread interest after the debates at the Paris Academy of Medicine in 1865 were reported internationally. During this period until the end of the decade, hundreds of publications appeared on the localization and laterality of findings in aphasic individuals and case series. Several large-scale systematic reviews of historic (pre-1861) and contemporary (post-1861) clinical findings were published only a few years after the syndrome had been proposed. These aimed to determine the strength and quality of evidence regarding the specialization and lateralization of brain areas for language. However, their authors held distinct theoretical assumptions and ideological concerns and were motivated by varied research questions. These comprehensive efforts using systematic review methodology to assess the evidence for and against hypotheses about the organization of language in the brain are examined to expose the issues of live debate in early neuroscience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of the History of the Neurosciences is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/0964704X.2025.2487419
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Brain function localization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language & languages
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cerebral dominance
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      – SubjectFull: Frontal lobe
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Diagnosis
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      – SubjectFull: Aphasia
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      – TitleFull: Evaluating evidence for the cortical localization for language: Systematic reviews in the 1860s and 1870s.
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              Text: Oct-Dec2025
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