ERIC Number: EJ791075
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Apr
Pages: 5
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0269-9206
EISSN: N/A
Embodiment in Communication--Aphasia, Apraxia and the Possible Role of Mirroring and Imitation
Ahlsen, Elisabeth
Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, v22 n4-5 p311-315 Apr 2008
The role of embodiment in communication is attracting an increased interest. This interest is to some extent caused by hypotheses and findings concerning mirror neurons in macaques, that is, neurons that are activated by production as well as perception of, for example, a certain movement of action. Mirror neurons seem to provide a fairly simple mechanism for acting, perceiving, imitating and pantomime, which could be crucial to the development of human communication and language. A number of theories try to extend similar ideas in describing human embodied communication. Some of the consequences of these theories are: (1) the close relation between speech and gestures; (2) the close relation between speech/language and praxis; and (3) the reconsideration of the importance for communication of more automatized versus more controlled processing. The purpose here is to point to possible consequences for clinical research and therapy concerning language disorders.
Descriptors: Language Impairments, Imitation, Neurolinguistics, Minimal Brain Dysfunction, Clinical Teaching (Health Professions), Role Perception, Speech Language Pathology, Communication Disorders
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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