AP Psychology Practice Test

What is Wernicke's area involved in?

1. Muscle movements involved in speech

2. Language comprehension and expression

3. Processing body sensations

4. Connecting the brain hemispheres

The correct answer is: Language comprehension and expression

Wernicke's area is primarily involved in language comprehension and expression. This region of the brain is crucial for understanding spoken and written language. It plays a vital role in the processing of language and is located in the left hemisphere of the brain, specifically in the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus. If this area is damaged, individuals may experience Wernicke's aphasia, characterized by difficulties in understanding language and producing meaningful speech, even though they may still produce fluent but nonsensical sentences. This highlights Wernicke’s area’s essential function in the integration and processing of linguistic information. The other options involve different aspects of brain function not directly related to language comprehension. For instance, muscle movements associated with speech involve the motor areas of the brain, while processing body sensations pertains to the somatosensory cortex. Connecting the brain hemispheres relates to the corpus callosum, which facilitates communication between the left and right sides of the brain, rather than language processing. Thus, the correct answer accurately identifies the specific function of Wernicke's area in the context of language.