What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to delineate brain areas involved in language processing beyond the core fronto-temporal network and to evaluate their specificity for language tasks.

July 1, 2026Journal of Neuroscience

The extended language network: Language-responsive brain areas whose contributions to language remain to be discovered

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Authors

AWAgata Wolna AWAaron Wright CCColton Casto

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Overview

Randomized trial identifies language-responsive brain areas outside the core network, suggesting new insights into language processing.

Key Points

This research aims to delineate brain areas involved in language processing beyond the core fronto-temporal network and to evaluate their specificity for language tasks.
Analyzed fMRI data from 772 participants performing a language localizer task to isolate language processing from other cognitive processes.
Identified 17 brain areas responding to language in both auditory and written modalities, evaluating their response relative to a non-linguistic task.
Seventeen brain areas outside the classical fronto-temporal network exhibit significant responses to language processing.
Most identified areas demonstrate selectivity for language compared to a demanding non-linguistic task with p<0.05.
Despite many contributions, the extended language network comprises less than 5% of the grey matter volume, challenging the notion that language processing engages the entire brain.

Cite This Study

Wolna et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a44aeba5cd2549c8bc43dc3 https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.0638-25.2026

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July 1, 2026Journal of Neuroscience

The extended language network: Language-responsive brain areas whose contributions to language remain to be discovered

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

AWAgata Wolna AWAaron Wright CCColton Casto

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Randomized trial identifies language-responsive brain areas outside the core network, suggesting new insights into language processing.

Key Points

This research aims to delineate brain areas involved in language processing beyond the core fronto-temporal network and to evaluate their specificity for language tasks.
Analyzed fMRI data from 772 participants performing a language localizer task to isolate language processing from other cognitive processes.
Identified 17 brain areas responding to language in both auditory and written modalities, evaluating their response relative to a non-linguistic task.
Seventeen brain areas outside the classical fronto-temporal network exhibit significant responses to language processing.
Most identified areas demonstrate selectivity for language compared to a demanding non-linguistic task with p<0.05.
Despite many contributions, the extended language network comprises less than 5% of the grey matter volume, challenging the notion that language processing engages the entire brain.

Cite This Study

Wolna et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a44aeba5cd2549c8bc43dc3 https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.0638-25.2026

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