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Updated: Jun 13, 2025
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Utilizing Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Language Function in Stroke Patients with Chronic Non-fluent Aphasia
Published on: July 2, 2013
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Evidence from aphasia suggests a bidirectional relationship between inner speech and executive function
Mackenzie E Fama1, Joshua D McCall2, Andrew T DeMarco3
1Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Neuropsychologia
|September 9, 2024
Summary
Inner speech, the ability to use language silently, may link language and executive function deficits in aphasia. This study found tentative links but also a double dissociation, suggesting a bidirectional relationship.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Linguistics
Background:
- Aphasia, often caused by stroke, involves language deficits and can co-occur with non-linguistic cognitive impairments.
- Executive functions, crucial for goal-directed behavior, are supported by inner speech in healthy adults.
- Inner speech may bridge language and executive function deficits in aphasia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between inner speech ability and executive function in adults with chronic post-stroke aphasia.
- To explore potential mediation of language and cognitive impairments by inner speech.
- To examine dissociations between inner speech and executive function.
Main Methods:
- Assessed inner speech using two methods: word retrieval and phonological manipulation.
- Evaluated five executive functions: response inhibition, conflict monitoring, task-switching, phonological control, and semantic control.
- Examined relationships and dissociations between inner speech and executive function measures.
Main Results:
- Tentative relationships were found between inner speech and executive functions, excluding response inhibition.
- A double dissociation was observed, indicating neither inner speech nor executive function is strictly dependent on the other.
- Inner speech supports some executive functions, while executive functions aid complex inner speech tasks.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship between inner speech and executive function in aphasia.
- Inner speech may support executive functions through self-cueing.
- Executive functions may support complex inner speech performance.
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