Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2025
07:14
A Method to Study Adaptation to Left-Right Reversed Audition
Published on: October 29, 2018
6.6K
Binary reversals: a diagnostic sign in primary progressive aphasia
Eoin Mulroy1, Lucy B Core1, Anthipa Chokesuwattanaskul1,2,3
1Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|December 10, 2023
Summary
Binary reversals, like "yes"/"no" confusion, are a key indicator for non-fluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA). This neurolinguistic feature strongly suggests nfvPPA, especially when appearing early in the illness.
Area of Science:
- Neurolinguistics
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Binary reversals, such as 'yes'/'no' confusions, are observed in primary progressive aphasia (PPA).
- The diagnostic utility and phenotypic associations of binary reversals remain underexplored.
- Understanding these features is crucial for accurate PPA diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the diagnostic value of binary reversals in PPA syndromes.
- To investigate the phenotypic correlates of binary reversals across different PPA variants and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD).
- To assess the predictive power of binary reversals for specific neurodegenerative diagnoses.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 83 patients with non-fluent/agrammatic PPA (nfvPPA), logopenic PPA (lvPPA), semantic PPA (svPPA), and bvFTD.
- Analysis of demographic, clinical, neuropsychological, linguistic, and behavioral data.
- Logistic regression used to evaluate the diagnostic predictive value of binary reversals.
Main Results:
- Binary reversals were present in all nfvPPA patients.
- Prevalence was lower in lvPPA (54%), svPPA (9%), and bvFTD (44%).
- Binary reversals strongly predicted nfvPPA diagnosis, even after controlling for confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- Binary reversals are a sensitive neurolinguistic marker for nfvPPA.
- Their presence, particularly as an early symptom, suggests an nfvPPA diagnosis.
- This finding aids in differentiating nfvPPA from other neurodegenerative conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Lateralization
338
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
338
01:10Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
876
Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
876
01:24Prosopagnosia
174
Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...
174
01:27Language and Cognition
349
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
349