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PubMed · 1483202

Could an autonomous syntax module have evolved?

P Lieberman
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Abstract

Darwinian evolution necessitates a contribution to reproductive fitness. Recent studies of aphasia and Parkinson's disease show that functional syntactic ability involves neural structures that also are involved in speech motor control and nonlinguistic cognition. The evolution or presence of an autonomous syntax module is, therefore, implausible.

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Aphasia, BrocaBiological EvolutionBrainBrain DiseasesCerebral CortexFemaleFunctional LateralityHumansLanguageLanguage DisordersMaleModels, NeurologicalJournal ArticleReview

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P Lieberman. 1992. Could an autonomous syntax module have evolved?. https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-934x(92)90095-v

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