Who discovered the brain area involved in understanding written spoken language?

There isn't a single individual who "discovered" the brain area involved in understanding written and spoken language. It's a complex process involving multiple brain areas, and research into language processing is an ongoing field.

Here's a breakdown of what we know and how our understanding evolved:

* Early Findings:

* Broca's Area (1861): Paul Broca identified a region in the left frontal lobe responsible for language production. Patients with damage to this area had difficulty speaking fluently.

* Wernicke's Area (1874): Carl Wernicke discovered a region in the left temporal lobe associated with language comprehension. Patients with damage to this area could speak fluently but their speech lacked meaning.

* Modern Research:

* Neuroimaging: Technologies like fMRI and PET scans have allowed researchers to map brain activity during language tasks, showing that language processing involves a complex network of interconnected areas. This network includes Broca's and Wernicke's areas, as well as areas in the visual cortex (for reading), auditory cortex (for listening), and other regions involved in memory, attention, and executive function.

* Ongoing Research: Researchers continue to investigate the specific roles of different brain regions in language processing, as well as the complex interplay between these areas.

So, there's no single "discoverer" of the brain area involved in understanding written and spoken language. It's a complex system that has been studied for centuries, and our understanding continues to evolve with the development of new research methods.