the region of the cerebral cortex thought to be essential for understanding and formulating coherent, propositional speech; it encompasses a large region of the parietal and temporal lobes near the lateral sulcus of the left cerebral hemisphere; corresponding approximately to Brodmann areas 40, 39, and adjacent portions of 22. SYN: sensory speech center, Wernicke area, Wernicke field, Wernicke region, Wernicke zone.