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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Utilizing Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Language Function in Stroke Patients with Chronic Non-fluent Aphasia
10:15

Utilizing Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Language Function in Stroke Patients with Chronic Non-fluent Aphasia

Published on: July 2, 2013

[Case report--Crossed aphasia]

Sigrídur Magnúsdóttir1, Ester Sighvatsdóttir

  • 1Talmeinathjónustu, Landspítala Grensási, 108 Reykjavík. siggatal@lsh.is

Laeknabladid
|February 7, 2009
PubMed

Insights

This case study details crossed aphasia in a right-handed individual, highlighting unusual phonological and prosodic deficits beyond typical Broca's aphasia symptoms. The findings challenge the conventional understanding of crossed aphasia presentation.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurolinguistics
  • Clinical Neurology

Background:

  • Crossed aphasia, rare in right-handed individuals, typically presents with left-hemisphere-like aphasic symptoms.
  • Understanding the neurological underpinnings of language processing in atypical brain lateralization is crucial.

Observation:

  • A 60-year-old right-handed male presented with Broca's aphasia and verbal apraxia following a right-hemisphere stroke.
  • Neuroimaging revealed a frontotemporal infarct affecting the right insula and temporal gyri, with subsequent parietal lobe involvement.
  • The patient exhibited significant prosodic difficulties (intonation, stress, vocal variation) and unique phonological deficits, including loss of preaspiration.

Findings:

  • The patient's aphasia presentation deviated significantly from the typical pattern observed in 70% of crossed aphasia cases.
  • The specific phonological deficit (loss of preaspiration) is characteristic of the Icelandic language, adding a unique dimension to the case.
  • The combination of Broca's aphasia, verbal apraxia, prosodic issues, and specific phonological loss points to complex right-hemisphere language processing.

Implications:

  • This case expands the known spectrum of crossed aphasia, demonstrating that right-hemisphere strokes can lead to diverse and atypical language impairments.
  • It underscores the potential for right-hemisphere involvement in aspects of speech production, prosody, and phonology, even in right-handed individuals.
  • Further research into right-hemisphere language functions and their disruption in crossed aphasia is warranted, particularly concerning phonological processing.

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