Anatomical Location of Broca's and Wernicke's Areas
Wernicke's area is located in the temporal lobe (specifically the posterior superior temporal gyrus), while Broca's area is located in the frontal lobe (inferior frontal gyrus). 1
Wernicke's Area: Temporal Lobe Location
Wernicke's area is definitively positioned in the temporal lobe, specifically in the posterior superior temporal gyrus of the left hemisphere. 1 The evidence consistently demonstrates this anatomical localization:
Word comprehension deficits are strongly correlated with blood flow within Wernicke's area in the temporal region, as shown by perfusion-weighted MRI studies during the hyperacute stroke period. 1
Recovery of word comprehension is associated with reperfusion of Wernicke's area, further confirming its temporal lobe location and functional role. 1
Damage to Wernicke's area in the temporal lobe is associated with cerebral palsy in pediatric stroke patients, alongside other structures like the basal ganglia and internal capsule. 1
Broca's Area: Frontal Lobe Location
Broca's area is located in the frontal lobe, not the temporal lobe. The evidence clearly distinguishes its anatomical position:
Structural damage to Broca's area is associated with impaired repetition and speech production deficits, distinct from the temporal lobe location of Wernicke's area. 1
Recovery of naming is predicted by reperfusion of Broca's area and/or Wernicke's area, with these being anatomically separate regions (frontal versus temporal). 1
Damage to Broca's area in pediatric stroke is associated with cerebral palsy, but it is anatomically distinct from temporal structures. 1
Clinical Significance
The anatomical distinction between these areas has important implications:
Functional MRI studies show activity in bilateral frontal and temporal regions when assessing language recovery, highlighting the separate but interconnected nature of Broca's (frontal) and Wernicke's (temporal) areas. 1
The arcuate fasciculus connects these regions, linking frontal language production areas with temporal auditory perception regions. 1