Language is a key human faculty for communication and interaction that provides invaluable insight into the human mind. Previous work has dissected different linguistic operations, but the large-scale brain networks involved in language processing are still not fully uncovered. Particularly, little is known about the subdomain-specific engagement of brain areas during semantic, syntactic, phonological, and prosodic processing and the role of subcortical and cerebellar areas. Here, we present the largest coordinate-based meta-analysis of language processing including 403 experiments. Overall, language processing primarily engaged bilateral fronto-temporal cortices, with the highest activation likelihood in the left posterior inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Whereas we could not detect any syntax-specific regions, semantics specifically engaged left posterior temporal areas (left fusiform and occipitotemporal cortex) and the left frontal pole. Phonology showed highest subdomain-specificity in bilateral auditory and left postcentral regions, whereas prosody engaged specifically the right amygdala and the right IFG. Across all subdomains and modalities, we found strong bilateral subcortical and cerebellar contributions. Especially the right cerebellum was engaged during various processes, including speech production, visual, and phonological tasks. Collectively, our results emphasize consistent recruitment and high functional modularity for general language processing in bilateral domain-specific (temporo-frontal) and domain-general (medial frontal/anterior cingulate cortex) regions but also a high specialization of different subareas for different linguistic subdomains. Our findings refine current neurobiological models of language by adding novel insight into the general sensitivity of the language network and subdomain-specific functions of different brain areas and highlighting the role of subcortical and cerebellar regions for different language operations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

中文翻译：

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皮质、皮质下和小脑对语言处理的贡献：403 个神经影像实验的荟萃分析综述。

语言是人类沟通和互动的关键能力，为了解人类思维提供了宝贵的洞察力。之前的工作已经剖析了不同的语言操作，但参与语言处理的大规模大脑网络仍未完全揭示。特别是，人们对语义、句法、语音和韵律处理过程中大脑区域特定子域的参与以及皮层下和小脑区域的作用知之甚少。在这里，我们提出了最大的基于坐标的语言处理元分析，包括 403 个实验。总体而言，语言处理主要涉及双侧额颞叶皮层，其中左后额下回（IFG）的激活可能性最高。虽然我们无法检测到任何语法特定区域，但语义专门涉及左后颞区（左梭状皮层和枕颞皮层）和左额极。音韵学在双侧听觉和左后中央区域显示出最高的子域特异性，而韵律则专门涉及右侧杏仁核和右侧 IFG。在所有子域和模式中，我们发现双侧皮质下和小脑的强烈贡献。尤其是右小脑参与了各种过程，包括言语产生、视觉和语音任务。总的来说，我们的结果强调双边特定域（颞额叶）和通用域（内侧额叶/前扣带皮层）区域的一般语言处理的一致招募和高度功能模块化，而且不同语言子域的不同子区域的高度专业化。我们的研究结果通过对语言网络的一般敏感性和不同大脑区域的子域特定功能添加新的见解，并强调皮层下和小脑区域在不同语言操作中的作用，完善了当前的语言神经生物学模型。（PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2023 APA，保留所有权利）。