Related Experiment Videos
Preserved speech abilities and compensation following prefrontal damage
R L Buckner1, M Corbetta, J Schatz
1Department of Neurology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. randy@npg.wustl.edu
Summary
Brain damage to the left frontal cortex can impair speech. This study shows a stroke patient preserved language function by activating compensatory brain pathways, demonstrated using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Neurolinguistics
Background:
- Left frontal cortex lesions in humans cause speech production deficits, known as nonfluent aphasia.
- Individual variability exists in the severity of these impairments, with some patients retaining certain speech production abilities.
- Functional compensation by alternative brain areas is a hypothesized mechanism for preserved function.