title: The neural basis of reversible sentence comprehension: evidence from voxel-based lesion symptom mapping in aphasia.
abstract: We explored the neural basis of reversible sentence comprehension in a large group of aphasic patients (n = 79). Voxel-based lesion symptom mapping revealed a significant association between damage in temporo-parietal cortex and impaired sentence comprehension. This association remained after we controlled for phonological working memory. We hypothesize that this region plays an important role in the thematic or what-where processing of sentences. In contrast, we detected weak or no association between reversible sentence comprehension and the ventrolateral pFC, which includes Broca's area, even for syntactically complex sentences. This casts doubt on theories that presuppose a critical role for this region in syntactic computations.
authors.affiliation: Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA. mthotha1@swarthmore.edu
authors.forename: Malathi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thothathiri
authors.forename: Daniel Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kimberg
authors.forename: Myrna F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001037:Aphasia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012660:Semantics; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology