Homework Option #6
Language and Cognition

Assignment requirements:  Complete any one of the five following activities in as much detail as possible using specific examples and definitions.  Be sure to justify your responses with information from class or from the text.  Please be sure your answer is no less than 1 full page and no more than 2 full pages of double-spaced type-written text.  If you choose to complete this assignment it must be emailed to me before the beginning of class on April 3rd.

LANGUAGE

1. Read the NYTimes article: Seeking Deeper Meaning in the Babbling of Babies.  Write a summary of the article relating relevant information to information we have covered in class or that relates to information from other courses or your own life.  Be sure to point out what you think is interesting about the findings.

OR

2. Read the Society for Neuroscience Brain Briefings entitled: Brain Plasticity, Language Processing and Reading. The article discusses how the brain's amazing plasticity allows a blind person to use the visual cortex to learn to read braille and "exercises" to help the brain with this type of reading arrangement. Be sure to summarize the article but also to discuss what you thought was most interesting or applicable to your life.

OR

3. Read the Society for Neuroscience Brain Briefings entitled: Dyslexia and Language Brain Areas. The article provides an overview of the brain regions involved with dyslexia and some of the diagnosis techniques being used. Be sure to summarize the article but also to discuss what you thought was most interesting or applicable to your life.

OR

4. Read the Society for Neuroscience Brain Briefings entitled: Stuttering. The article discusses the brain activity invovled in this often misunderstood speech disorder. Be sure to summarize the article but also to discuss what you thought was most interesting or applicable to your life.

COGNITION

5. How does Parkinson's Disease affect cognition? Read the Society for Neuroscience Brain Briefings entitled: Parkinson's and Cognition to find out. Be sure to summarize the article but also to discuss what you thought was most interesting or applicable to your life.