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Glite Dictionary
Wernicke's center

Wernicke's center

8.8
An area at the back of the brain that helps people understand spoken and written language
  • noun
  • /ˈwɜrnɪkəz ˈsɛntər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : centro de Wernicke
  • Damage to the Wernicke's center can result in difficulties understanding spoken language.

Examples

  • A stroke affecting the Wernicke's center may lead to a condition known as receptive aphasia.

  • Researchers have identified the Wernicke's center as crucial for auditory word recognition.

  • The Wernicke's center plays a crucial role in language processing.

  • Damage to the Wernicke's center can lead to language comprehension issues.

  • Damage to the Wernicke's center can result in difficulties understanding spoken language.

  • A stroke affecting the Wernicke's center may lead to a condition known as receptive aphasia.

  • Researchers have identified the Wernicke's center as crucial for auditory word recognition.

Synonyms

Wernicke's area
vsWernicke's center
  • Specialized
7.9

A part of the left brain that helps you understand language

has identical meaning but uses a different label word for the region

Surface Forms

Wernicke's center singular

Morphology

Wernicke's + center

This is an eponymous anatomical term: 'Wernicke's' is a proper name (an eponym) and 'center' only signals a place, so a learner who knows the words cannot derive the specialized sense 'brain area for language comprehension' from the parts. Understanding the MWE requires background knowledge of the person/term and neuroscience, not straightforward composition, so it is not predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

The term Wernicke's center is named after the German doctor Wernicke, who found a small part of the brain important for language, and center simply means 'a place'. He showed this place helps people 'understand' words, so today Wernicke's center means the brain area important for understanding speech and writing.