Broca’s Area: Linking Perception and Production in Language and Actions

A distinction between action perception and production has always been emphasized by traditional accounts of brain function. The goal of this review is to show that this simple distinction seems no longer valid. Broca’s area in particular seems to be important for both perception and production of language and action. Functional imaging studies suggest that Broca’s area is active both when people produce and perceive syntactically complex sentences and while they produce and perceive complex actions. Lesions in this area disrupt the capacity to produce syntactically correct sentences and to perceive sentences in which syntax is essential. From an action-perspective, lesions to Broca’s area disrupt the capacity to produce goal-directed actions and to perceive the actions of others. Furthermore, the property and location of mirror neurons in the monkey might provide the reason why Broca’s area in humans has a dual function in production and perception.