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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2025

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

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

Published on: July 2, 2013

Right hemispheric structural connectivity and poststroke language recovery.

Aleksi J Sihvonen^1,2,3,4,5, Veronika Vadinova^1,2,3, Kimberley L Garden^1,2,3

¹Queensland Aphasia Research Centre, University of Queensland, Herston, Australia.

Human Brain Mapping

|February 28, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The right hemisphere

Keywords:

aphasia language recovery right hemisphere stroke structural connectometry

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Neurology
Radiology

Background:

Poststroke aphasia often stems from left-hemisphere damage to language networks.
The role of the right hemisphere in aphasia recovery is not fully understood.
Existing research presents conflicting findings regarding right-hemisphere contributions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of the right hemisphere's structural connectome in poststroke aphasia recovery.
To examine the relationship between early subacute right hemisphere white matter connectivity and language abilities.
To determine how early connectivity influences longitudinal changes in language production and comprehension.

Main Methods:

Longitudinal observational study of 22 patients with poststroke aphasia.
Comprehensive language assessments at early subacute and chronic stages.
Novel structural connectometry using multi-shell diffusion-weighted MRI data from the early subacute stage.

Main Results:

Negative associations found between right hemisphere structural connectivity and language production, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.
Positive associations observed between right hemisphere structural connectivity and language comprehension, cross-sectionally and longitudinally.
Interhemispheric connectivity showed a strong association with comprehension scores.

Conclusions:

Some right hemisphere white matter pathways may hinder language recovery (maladaptive).
Other right hemisphere pathways appear to support language recovery, particularly comprehension.
Findings help reconcile conflicting previous research on the right hemisphere's role in aphasia.