Key points

Speaking is deceptively complex.

The neural architecture of speaking is grounded in sensory systems.

An integration of linguistic and motor control theories illuminates how we speak.

This post is part one of a series.

Speaking feels like the most natural thing in the world. You think a thought, open your mouth, and words tumble out in perfect sequence. Yet this apparent simplicity masks one of the most remarkable feats your brain performs daily. Consider this: An 18-month-old can form words reasonably well but won't master toilet training for another year. Meanwhile, our closest evolutionary relatives—despite their intelligence and dexterity—cannot speak at all. This is not because their mouth is anatomically incapable of speech, it's because speech is difficult to coordi

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