MIT McGovern Institute researchers find a "satellite" component of the brain’s dedicated language network in the cerebellum, a region better known for coordinating movement.

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MIT researchers have discovered language-processing regions in the cerebellum, extending the brain's language network beyond the neocortex. Using functional MRI scans from over 800 people, they identified four cerebellar areas involved in language use, including a "satellite" region in the right posterior cerebellum that activates exclusively during language tasks. Three other regions participate in both language and non-linguistic tasks, suggesting the cerebellum may integrate information across cognitive functions. The findings could inform treatments for aphasia and language impairments through targeted brain stimulation.

A satellite language network in the brain