Talk by Evelina Fedorenko at the RTG
Dr. Evelina Fedorenko, a cognitive neuroscientist at MIT, paid a visit to the RTG Dimensions of Constructional Space in November 2025. Her work established that the human brain contains a constellation of regions in the left-hemisphere frontal and temporal cortex that are highly selective for language processing: she calls this network the “language system”.
After her arrival in Erlangen, she gave a talk presenting her research to students and associated members of the RTG. She retraced her research journey over the last decade and how she utilized fMRI and intracranial recordings to demonstrate that the language network is a distinct system, independent from other cognitive functions like math, music, or logic. One focus of her talk was to distinguish language from thoughts. She presented neuroscientific evidence that the brain’s language system is distinct and separable from the systems used for complex reasoning. The most striking evidence for the independence of thought from language comes from patients with global aphasia, who still display intact cognitive functions and perform theory of mind.
Later in the afternoon, a more informal discussion took place with our young researchers. Dr. Fedorenko shared her experience as a woman in academia and encouraged discussion on a variety of topics: how to find your place and fulfilment in an academic environment, difficulties scholars encounter in the writing and publishing process, and what best practices one can implement to create an inclusive and supportive lab.
At the end of this intense day, Dr. Fedorenko left Erlangen. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for her energy and all the great insights that will fuel our research. If you would like to learn more about Dr. Fedorenko’s work and lab, please visit: https://www.evlab.mit.edu/