26 Flashcards
(18 cards)
Where are the parts of the brain involved in the Wernicke-Geschwind model of language for speech and comprehension?
a. Comprehension: spoken word – Area 41 → Wernicke’s area (contains sound images of words) – hear/comprehend word
b. Speech: cognition – Wernicke’s area → Broca’s area (stores motor programs for speaking words) → facial area of motor cortex → cranial nerves – speak
How is our current understanding different from that model? Why is our current understanding different from that model?
Wernicke-Geschwind model is too simplistic
Current understanding sees language as distributed, involving multiple overlapping networks (not just Broca’s and Wernicke’s)
Neuroimaging shows more areas activated in real-time language use, including right hemisphere contribution
What is aphasia, what is the distinction among general ‘types’ of aphasia? What is one way of assessing aphasia that we saw used in the video in class?
a. Aphasia – disorder of language (speech, writing, reading), produced by injury to specialized brain areas
i. 3 categories – nonfluent aphasia, fluent aphasia, pure aphasia
One example from class showed a patient trying to explain their profession (a dentist) by using gestures like miming brushing teeth, because they had difficulty recalling the word “dentist.” This nonverbal compensation is a common real-life indicator of anomia (word-finding difficulty) and is often observed in clinical assessments or natural conversation when evaluating aphasia.
What are the main symptoms of Broca’s aphasia?
struggle with producing language, including speaking and writing
What are the symptoms of transcortical motor aphasia?
Trouble producing words
Starting and stopping frequently when speaking
Word-finding difficulty
What are the symptoms of global aphasia?
Global aphasia is the most severe form of aphasia, resulting in significant impairment across all aspects of language. It affects a person’s ability to speak, understand spoken language, read, and write. Individuals with global aphasia may have difficulty producing even a few words, or they might repeat limited phrases.
What are paraphasia, agrammatism, and anomia?
a. Paraphasia – unintended syllable, word, phrase (saying the wrong thing)
b. Agrammatism – deficit in grammatical construction (hard to find verbs)
c. Anomia – not being able to find words
What types of things do people with Broca’s aphasia have trouble understanding?
a. Broca’s aphasia – trouble understanding same kind of words (prepositions, conjunctions)
b. Comprehension deficit if:
i. Sentence meaning depends on prepositions, word endings, or unusual word order
ii. Sentence structure is complicated
c. Do not understand super complex/long sentences
What are the symptoms of Wernicke’s aphasia? How is it “fluent”?
Symptoms:
Impaired language comprehension
Repetition impaired
Confusion of phonetic characteristics
Cannot write
Impaired ability to find or retrieve the names of objects
Fluent:
The individual will be fluent in speech and articulation
What are neologisms?
Neologism – new “word”
What are the symptoms of transcortical sensory aphasia?
Symptoms:
Fluent speech with paraphasic errors
Impaired auditory comprehension
intact repetition
comprehension difficulties
What are the symptoms of conduction aphasia? What structure is thought to be damaged in conduction aphasia?
a. Normal: speech production, naming, understanding
b. Impaired: repetition of language
c. Damaged structure – arcuate fasciculus – connects Wernicke’s area and Broca’s area
What are the symptoms of amnesic or anomic aphasia?
a. Normal: comprehension, speech production, repetition
b. Impaired: naming objects, shows anomia and paraphasia
What is agraphia?
Inability to write.
What is acquired alexia?
Inability to write
What is word deafness?
Cannot hear/repeat words.
Which type of aphasia has the worst recovery prognosis, and why? Which one has the best
recovery prognosis?
a. Global aphasia – worst
i.
ii. Impact on language abilities, extensive brain damage in Broca’s area and
Wernicke’s area
b. Postraumatic aphasia – best
What is the difference in prognosis for aphasia after stroke & after TBI?
Stroke: clearer lesion site, easier and faster recovery, less severe
TBI: diffuse damage, recovery can be less predictable, more severe, longer recovery time
