Uncinate fasciculus and word selection processing in Parkinson's disease.
Sonia Di Tella1, Francesca Baglio1, Laura Pelizzari1
1IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Via A. Capecelatro, 66, 20148, Milan, Italy.
Neuropsychologia
|June 3, 2020
Summary
This study found that the uncinate fasciculus (UF) integrity is linked to word selection in Parkinson's disease (PD). The left UF is crucial for word selection, while the right UF aids in demanding tasks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) affects motor and cognitive functions, including word production.
- The uncinate fasciculus (UF), a white matter tract, is implicated in language processing.
- Word selection, especially from numerous alternatives, is a complex cognitive process potentially affected in PD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the integrity of the left uncinate fasciculus (UF) and word selection abilities in Parkinson's disease (PD).
- To differentiate the roles of the left and right UF in word production tasks of varying cognitive load.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) was used to assess white matter integrity in 19 PD patients and 17 healthy controls (HC).
- Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values of the left and right UF were computed.
- Participants performed verb-to-noun derivation and noun-to-verb generation tasks, with performance correlated to UF integrity.
Main Results:
- Both left and right UF-FA correlated with overall word production and noun production in the PD group.
- In right-sided PD, correlations were observed with the contralateral UF-FA.
- In left-sided PD, noun production, the more demanding task, significantly correlated with the right UF-FA.
Conclusions:
- The left UF plays a significant role in word selection processes.
- The right UF is involved when word selection requires substantial attentional resources, as seen in noun production.
- UF integrity is crucial for maintaining word selection abilities in Parkinson's disease.
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