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The thalamus and language revisited.
Adam O Hebb1, George A Ojemann
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, USA. adam.hebb@aoh.ca
Brain and Language
|August 4, 2012
Summary
Thalamic stimulation during surgery reveals distinct language functions, including anomia and a specific alerting response (SAR). These findings suggest new models for thalamic roles in language and memory processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neurolinguistics
Background:
- The left thalamus plays a role in language and verbal memory.
- Thalamic stimulation during surgery for movement disorders has revealed specific effects on language function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize findings on the regionalization of language function within the left thalamus.
- To propose mechanistic models for observed language and memory effects of thalamic stimulation.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on thalamic stimulation during surgery for movement disorders.
- Analysis of language and verbal memory effects associated with stimulation of different thalamic regions (anterior VL, mid-VL, posterior VL, pulvinar).
- Literature review on the thalamic role in memory and language.
Main Results:
- Three distinct language effects were identified: anomia (posterior VL and pulvinar), perseveration (mid-VL), and a specific alerting response (SAR) involving memory and acceleration (anterior VL).
- A mechanistic model for SAR involving thalamostriatal projections and striatal switching was proposed.
- A model for anomia implicating pulvinar disruption of cortical synchronization via cortico-pulvinar-cortical pathways was suggested.
Conclusions:
- The left thalamus exhibits regional specialization for distinct language functions.
- Proposed models offer insights into the neural mechanisms underlying anomia and SAR.
- Further experimental validation is needed to confirm the proposed mechanisms.
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