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Prosodic characteristics of speech pre- and post-right hemisphere stroke
L X Blonder1, J E Pickering, R L Heath
1Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40536-0230, USA.
Brain and Language
|November 1, 1995
Summary
Right hemisphere damage impairs speech prosody, affecting intonation and emotional expression. This study details how a stroke impacted one patient's vocal pitch and speech patterns, revealing significant changes in prosodic features.
Area of Science:
- Neurolinguistics
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Speech Science
Background:
- Right hemisphere dominance for prosody production is suggested by prior case-control studies.
- Prosody, encompassing intonation and emotional tone, is crucial for effective communication.
Observation:
- A 77-year-old right-handed woman was studied before and after a stroke affecting right frontotemporoparietal regions and basal ganglia.
- Post-stroke, the patient exhibited hemispatial neglect and deficits in facial expression and prosody comprehension, despite a normal Mini-Mental Status Examination score.
Findings:
- The patient demonstrated a reduced fundamental frequency (fo) contour and an increased speech rate post-stroke.
- Variability in pause duration decreased, while breath-group duration and the timing of peak fo remained unchanged.
Implications:
- Findings support the role of the right hemisphere in producing spontaneous speech prosody.
- This case highlights the specific prosodic alterations following right-sided brain injury, impacting communication beyond literal content.