Speech and language functions that require a functioning Broca's area.
A number of previous studies have indicated that Broca's area has an important role in understanding and producing syntactically complex sentences and other language functions. If Broca's area is critical for these functions, then either infarction of Broca's area or temporary hypoperfusion within this region should cause impairment of these functions, at least while the neural tissue is dysfunctional. The opportunity to identify the language functions that depend on Broca's area in a particular individual was provided by a patient with hyperacute stroke who showed selective hypoperfusion, with minimal infarct, in Broca's area, and acutely impaired production of grammatical sentences, comprehension of semantically reversible (but not non-reversible) sentences, spelling, and motor planning of speech articulation. When blood flow was restored to Broca's area, as demonstrated by repeat perfusion weighted imaging, he showed immediate recovery of these language functions. The identification of language functions that were impaired when Broca's area was dysfunctional (due to low blood flow) and recovered when Broca's area was functional again, provides evidence for the critical role of Broca's area in these language functions, at least in this individual.
Davis
Cameron
C
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Kleinman
Jonathan T
JT
Newhart
Melissa
M
Gingis
Leila
L
Pawlak
Mikolaj
M
Hillis
Argye E
AE
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001039:Aphasia, Broca / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006438:Hemodilution; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D009155:Mutism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012660:Semantics; D013068:Speech Production Measurement
D006493:Heparin