<p>As often the case, named after the person who first described it.</p>

<p><a href="http://global.britannica.com/science/Wernicke-area">From Encyclopedia Britannica</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Wernicke area, region of the brain that contains motor neurons involved in the
  comprehension of speech. 
  This area was first described in 1874 by German neurologist Carl
  Wernicke.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-09T09:28:09.437Z
2015-10-09T09:28:09.437Z
Steven Jeuris
<p>My teacher told us that this area of the brain helps with the comprehension of language and it is located in the temporal lobe of the cortex, but she never told us why is was called Wernike's area and she told us it might be on the AP Exam. So why is it called that?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-09T04:30:08.693Z
http://bfy.tw/2CPD
Vakalate
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-09T09:28:33.847Z
Anything specific you were looking for you couldn't instantly find on google?
Steven Jeuris
<neuroanatomy><psychology>
Why is Wernike's area of the brain called Wernike's area?
adrianascott
# Why is Wernike's area of the brain called Wernike's area?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-10-08)

My teacher told us that this area of the brain helps with the comprehension of language and it is located in the temporal lobe of the cortex, but she never told us why is was called Wernike's area and she told us it might be on the AP Exam. So why is it called that?

**Tags:** neuroanatomy, psychology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: http://bfy.tw/2CPD  
> **username_2**: Anything specific you were looking for you couldn't instantly find on google?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-10-09. Score: 7

As often the case, named after the person who first described it.

[From Encyclopedia Britannica](http://global.britannica.com/science/Wernicke-area):

> Wernicke area, region of the brain that contains motor neurons involved in the
> comprehension of speech.
> This area was first described in 1874 by German neurologist Carl
> Wernicke.


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