There is not any specific brain area for writing: From cave-paintings to computers

In this paper it is pointed out that human brain adaptation was accomplished to survive in certain living conditions that existed long before classical civilizations did. It is argued that there is no brain area specialized for writing, but rather that writing relies on some basic abilities that existed long before writing was invented. Pre-writing was initially a visuoconstructive and ideomotor ability, and only later did it become the language-related ability of writing. It is also emphasized that most of the neuropsychological syndromes, including agraphia, were described during the late 19th and early 20th century, but living conditions have changed dramatically during the last 100 years. Writing no longer means only using pencil and paper, but using computer word processing programs. Writing using paper and pencil does not require the same cognitive, motor, and spatial tasks as those required when using a computer keyboard. Although the conceptual knowledge of written language can be the same, the motor activity and the spatial abilities that are used are rather different. It can be anticipated that new neuropsychological syndromes resulting from these new living conditions will be described in the future.