Neuroplasticity, neural reuse, and the language module

dc.contributor.authorZerilli, John
dc.date.accessioned2018-03-29T02:48:29Z
dc.date.available2018-03-29T02:48:29Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.description.abstractWhat conception of mental architecture can survive the evidence of neuroplasticity and neural reuse in the human brain? In particular, what sorts of modules are compatible with this evidence? I aim to show how developmental and adult neuroplasticity, as well as evidence of pervasive neural reuse, forces us to revise the standard conception of modularity and spells the end of a hardwired and dedicated language module. I argue from principles of both neural reuse and neural redundancy that language is facilitated by a composite of modules (or module-like entities), few if any of which are likely to be linguistically special, and that neuroplasticity provides evidence that (in key respects and to an appreciable extent) few if any of them ought to be considered developmentally robust, though their development does seem to be constrained by features intrinsic to particular regions of cortex (manifesting as domain-specific predispositions or acquisition biases). In the course of doing so I articulate a schematically and neurobiologically precise framework for understanding modules and their supramodular interactions.en_AU
dc.identifier.otherb49594096
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/142197
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.subjectModularity of minden_AU
dc.subjectneuroplasticityen_AU
dc.subjectneural plasticityen_AU
dc.subjectneural reuseen_AU
dc.subjectneural re-useen_AU
dc.subjectmultiple realisationen_AU
dc.subjectmultiple realizationen_AU
dc.titleNeuroplasticity, neural reuse, and the language moduleen_AU
dc.typeThesis (PhD)en_AU
dcterms.valid2018en_AU
local.contributor.affiliationSchool of Philosophy, The Australian National Universityen_AU
local.contributor.authoremailjohn.zerilli@gmail.comen_AU
local.contributor.supervisorSterelny, Kim
local.contributor.supervisorcontactkim.sterelny@anu.edu.auen_AU
local.description.notesthe author deposited 29/03/2018en_AU
local.identifier.doi10.25911/5d6c3c60dbf51
local.mintdoimint
local.type.degreeDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)en_AU

Downloads

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Zerilli Thesis 2018 final.pdf
Size:
3.5 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
884 B
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Back to topicon-arrow-up-solid
 
APRU
IARU
 
edX
Group of Eight Member

Acknowledgement of Country

The Australian National University acknowledges, celebrates and pays our respects to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people of the Canberra region and to all First Nations Australians on whose traditional lands we meet and work, and whose cultures are among the oldest continuing cultures in human history.


Contact ANUCopyrightDisclaimerPrivacyFreedom of Information

+61 2 6125 5111 The Australian National University, Canberra

TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) CRICOS Provider Code: 00120C ABN: 52 234 063 906