A reappraisal of localization theory with reference to aphasia. Part 1: Historical considerations.

Aphasiology is deeply rooted in observations of human behavior, in classification systems for speech and language disturbances, and in language paradigms from outside neurology. A systematic examination of the behaviors that were historically incorporated into aphasia classifications, the changes over time in what behaviors were considered important enough to classify, and the context in which these observations took place can serve as the entry point for a critique of current aphasia studies. Part 1 of this three-part series therefore examines the historical roots of contemporary aphasiology with these issues in mind.