Left-to-right transfer of language dominance: a case study

Partial recovery from aphasia was documented in an individual rendered hemiplegic and globally aphasic by embolic infarction in the distribution of the left middle cerebral artery. Computed tomography showed total destruction of the classical left hemisphere language areas, indicating that the right hemisphere was responsible for the improved linguistic function. This observation is consistent with right hemisphere language capacity demonstrated after left hemispherectomy or commissurotomy. Right hemisphere language function may underlie much of the recovery from aphasia after injury of the left hemisphere.