Causal evidence for a coordinated temporal interplay within the language network

Language is efficiently processed in milliseconds in the human brain. It is supported by the interaction of widely distributed brain regions in the left frontal, temporal, and parietal cortex, which are interconnected via white matter fiber tracts, allowing fast information transfer between them. The precise timing of this interaction within the language network is still an open question as causal evidence is insufficient. The present three experiments used a combined transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography approach to provide causal evidence for region-specific, time-critical processing-windows during auditory language comprehension. Our results show that a temporally well-coordinated interaction of left posterior temporal and inferior frontal regions provides the basis for the human ability to process language fast and efficiently.