Explaining aphasias in neuronal terms

Abstract Neuronal derangement causing aphasia is simulated by means of lesions in artificial networks patterned according to the neuroanatomy of the language cortex. Linguistic elements are assumed to have their neuronal counterparts in Hebbian cell assemblies comprising neurons of disparate cortical regions. The simulations correctly predict that aphasic symptoms (like non-fluent speech production, speech perception deficit, agrammatism, anornia) vary as a function of the cortical lesion site. Implications for brain theory are discussed.