The area of the brain located in the left frontal lobe and involved in language.
The Broca’s range lies more precisely in the lower part of the frontal circumference. Described in the 19th century by the French physician Paul Broca, this region is considered one of the major centres of language production.
The Fundamental Role of Broca’s Area
Unlike the Wernicke area, which is involved in comprehension, the Broca area is indispensable for organizing and articulating words. It coordinates the movements of the muscles of the mouth, tongue and larynx, making it possible to transform our thoughts into words. But her role is not limited to motor skills: she also contributes to the grammatical and syntactic structuring of sentences, making language fluid and intelligible.
When Broca’s Area is Impacted
Attacking this zone results in Broca’s aphasia, characterized by difficulty speaking, forming complete sentences or finding the right words. Those affected know what they mean and retain their understanding of language, but their speaking becomes laborious, with short, chopped sentences. This disorder illustrates the crucial importance of this area in everyday communication.