FOXP2: An interesting theory

At the beginning the theory of FOXP2 sounded for me like a Star Wars episode, I just had in mind those sci-fi scenes with big labs and fast rockets. However, looking carefully on the net I found that the FoxP2 is actually a gene and protein that was discovered in the nineties of the twentieth century, it is related to human language: its mutation correlates with certain specific disorders of language

Although it has been given gene expression or speech language to characterize it, it is one factor among those responsible for human competence for language. However, it is an indication that, probably, in the human language are involved some genetic factors: although its exact function is unknown, it seems essential for its normal development of language.

FOXP2 is expressed in several areas of the brain during embryogenesis, although it is unclear whether gene activation occurs in the embryonic stage and if that happens the moment you start to learn to speak. Their levels are highest in layer of the cortex, subcortical structures especially the base of the brain (very close to the corpus callosum): basal ganglia, thalamus and cerebellum. It is also present in embryogenesis of other human organs: lungs, intestine and heart.

It has been suggested also that the same version of the gene was present in Neanderthals, having been modified by natural selection during recent human evolution over the past 200 000 years.

The discovery was made by a group of genetic Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, led by Simon Fisher. They had been alerted from an English school of logotherapy about a group of children from the same family (called conventionally KE) who had certain defects of speech and language going back to the great-grandparents. Since disorders manifested block, and to varying degrees, it was understood that its origin was in default of a single allele. Simon Fisher's group identified a mutation in a segment of chromosome 7, at the site where the gene FoxP2 is located.

Although it sounds kind of strange it cannot be far from the truth if you think about how many things can be located in the brain but not discovered yet. We can think about Language as a genetic gift and why not? If we have looked at it as a gift from God. I think that the human body is perfect, everything inside us is there for some reason, we can say that FOXP2 gene give us the chance of producing and understanding language and maybe can be the reason of different diseases presented in our children's development of language. I just have to say that there are infinite ways to look at the language, in that order of ideas we have to consider theories, no matter how new or crazy they sound. Being a Linguist also requires being open-minded, not to every single issue or theory presented, but to be very rational, curious and try to figure out the reason why those theories are presented.  All of these theories are relevant and need respect since they have been conducted seriously and even more if we take into account that in Linguistics we have improved a lot but not enough to discover the innate nature of Language. 

More information: http://www.foxp2.com/

AWAKENINGS Reflections about the movie

Awakenings is a movie based on the autobiography of the neurologist Oliver Sacks, Awakenings tells the true story of the discovery in 1969 of temporary beneficial effects of L-dopa and its application to catatonic patients who survived the epidemic of sleeping sickness in 1917-1928. Oliver Sacks in the film is played by actor Robin Williams under the name of Malcolm Sayer. Malco Sayer is a doctor who throughout his career has been devoted to experimenting with earthworms. He got a job at a hospital in New York City, where he began to treat patients with catatonic disease.

One day he realizes that one of his patients instinctively grabs his glasses before they fall to the ground. Then he started researching about the disease and formulating a hypothesis about the possible causes, but mainly about their treatment.

At this point he is faced to a new problem: the skepticism of his colleagues and relatives of their patients regarding their theory that these patients are likely to return to live and that his illness would be a Parkinson's disease worsened.

Among his various investigations, become familiar with a new drug, L-dopa, which is used to treat Parkinson's, and decide to try it with one of his patients, Leonard Lowe (Robert De Niro).

After many failed attempts, Leonard awakens one night. Thereafter, the doctor receives acceptance from colleagues and relatives of the victims, and financial aid, thanks to which he can begin to treat all patients with this drug.

Those patients saw beautiful moments of their lives coming back again as if never had happened to their healthy lives. They started to live the life from the point they forgot it, it was really amazing for Sayer and his colleagues to see those people living on their own like small kids. Somehow Sayer had awakened them to the life that belongs to them.

However, the problems reappeared when Leonard, the first patient treated with L-dopa, redeveloped symptoms of the disease, and the doctor and his patients and their families are deeply affected. 

I just have to say that we as teachers are doctors of our students. We have in our hands what is necessary to awake them, but we also have the power to keep them asleep forever. Sometimes teaching the contents of the curriculum is not enough. It is important to keep our students aware of what is going on outside. They need to be instructed to life, they need to know the difference of thinking differently (or at least to know the difference) , our students have the right to know that there is another side to the side that is always shown to us. We need to make them feel they can live happy and that learning is part of that happiness, that there is a world outside waiting for them. The opportunities to live a full life are there but we sometimes do not even think there is a possibility for us, how can we convince our students to do so? My reflection goes to the role of the teacher as the alarm clock that always keeps their students on the same truck to the path of success. 

"LANGUAGE IS ABOUT CONNECTIONS"(Five questions given by Professor Fajardo to reflect on)

1. What could Language Learning and Teaching benefit from Neurolinguistic studies?

When regarding the benefits of Neurolinguistics at the moment of teaching or learning a language, it is possible to affirm that they are linked in such a way that they can interplay in different aspects taking into account many issues that can be further explained or clarified by just looking carefully to the inter connections  among them.

Examples of these connections and relations are the influences of language processing in the brain; how some language procedures take place and the different issues that can be considered as encouraging or affecting factors at the moment of attempting to learn another language. Injuries to the lower parts of the post central area of the left hemisphere cause a syndrome in which the articulation of sounds are not possible and the person can have serious difficulty writing words, for example.

Moreover, the Neurolinguistics has a very large interest in the phonetic, morphological, grammatical and syntactical language, and also has been interested in clarifying the role that language plays in transmitting not only data but also in the influence language has on the receptor.

It is also outstanding to consider a careful look and reflection over the causes and consequences that factors that inhibit the process of learning and teaching another language because they can probably be outstanding when looking for answers about "delays" "impediments" or "obstacles" in the process of being a successful learner of a foreign/second language. It is possible to say that Neurolinguistics contemplates the possibility that there may be different functional topographies of the cerebral representation regarding distinct processes in language ​​learning: Aphasia, Dyslexia, among others. 

2. Where is Language?

This question is maybe one of the most difficult to answer at the moment. We can say that Language is everywhere like the air, like the butterflies over the grass in spring. Language is holding the hand of a couple in love or maybe it is in the mischievous look of a little kid when taking cookies without asking for one. Language can be the weird and mocking face of your mother when telling you where the things are supposed to be and you just don't see them. Language is located in the book that was written thousands of years ago and it is still in the hands of a long-haired girl sitting in the park smiling alone because maybe something funny came to her mind. Language is in the news, it is in the politician rehearsed speech or it is in the poster of a girl holding a perfume that you just can't stop looking at. I think I just can describe countless times I've seen, heard and smelt language. But if we have to be a little bit more exact, it is maybe possible to affirm that Neurolinguistically talking the language is processed in our brains, and why not? if our brain is the most complex organism ever known. We make thousands and thousands of connections just to move our hands and say "hello!" and why not if just something affects it (Broca's, Wernicke's area for instance), we can probably never understand a beautiful song while thinking about the meaning of it or while writing a poem that will be read, understood and loved by someone. 

3.What is language?

Language is about connections. It is not only a particular system of communication and it is not necessary an only-human ability. Language is nature, is not only to convey meaning by giving oral or written information since it is possible to see language as body movements, images, gestures, music, sounds etc. Moreover, I consider as a personal appreciation that Language is the true Fountain of Youth as it can immortalize everything across the years. Language is power; it is the possibility of changing other's mind, to convince a complete country to believe or act the way you want. Language can manipulate or liberate the souls, can destroy what was considered not destroyable before. Language is the representation of the human being and his remnant in history. Language is definable and indefinable at the same time, it contains so many things that you just can think of anything and language somehow has something to do there. 

4. To what extent does Neurolinguistics help to reconceptualize the meaning of language competence?

Since Neurolinguistics analyzes the language and its connections with the human brain, it can establish or state the processes which serve as functional regarding the biological capacity of a human being in one part. On the other part, NL also studies on the complex way the language is constructed through human evolution, how the first language is acquired and what can disturb or nourish the learning process of a second one.  With a big influence on what it is supposed to fit into “ability” or “capacity”, the NL can help to focus or center the attention on characteristics that can be characterized into solid language competence or the existance of a reinforcement need or special treatment application in order to get close to what a conscious and effective language competence is. Despite the concept of competence can be misunderstood only by the “capacity” it is possible to take it into account also as the “appropriate or adequate learning procedure” so It not only the capacity to learn a language what matters to NL but also what enforces or stimulates the learner in order to lead  him/her to a real language competence.