Brain for Speech

Francisco Aboitiz is Professor of the Psychiatry Department at the Medical School, and Director of the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Center at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He has published more than 100 scientific papers on evolution, neuroscience and neuropsychiatry.

“This book presents an ambitious combination of evolution and neuroscience applied to language development. … A curated bibliography and subject/author indexes round out the scholarly apparatus; overall, a compelling exploration that merges psychology, neurology, linguistics, and evolutionary biology. … Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty, and professionals.” (J. A. Mather, Choice, Vol. 56 (1), September, 2018)“This book is dense in up-to-date factual information. … Aboitiz indicates that the book is intended primarily for undergraduates and graduate students, the detailed content would be intimidating to most students. It is more appropriate for use as a reference source by researchers and other specialists interested in language.” (James W. Kalat, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 62 (49), December, 2017)

• Introduction: The beginning of words.- 1. Pandora’s box.- 2. A matter of size.- 3. Broken symmetry.- 4. Bridging hemispheres.- 5. A loop for speech.- 6. Monkey brain, human brain.- 7. Grasping mirrors.- 8. Of birds and men.- 9. Talking heads.- 10. Taming ourselves.- Epilogue.