title: Brain areas impaired in oral and verbal apraxic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As both oral and verbal apraxia are related to vocal orofacial musculature, this study aimed at identifying brain regions impaired in cases with oral and verbal apraxia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this non-experimental study, 46 left brain damaged subjects (17 females) aged 23-84 years, were examined by oral and verbal apraxia tasks. Impaired and spared Broca's area, insula, and middle frontal gyrus in the left hemisphere were checked from magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans utilizing Talairach Atlas. Data were analyzed using chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Insula was significantly impaired in both forms of oral and verbal apraxia and different severities and prominent forms of both apraxias (P < 0.05). Broca's area was slightly less involved than insula in two forms of apraxia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the damage of insula was more prominent in both forms of apraxias, it seems that oral and verbal apraxia may have commonalities regarding their underlying brain lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yadegari
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azimian
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahgozar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, AJA University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shekarchi
keywords: Broca’s Area; Insula; Left Hemisphere Damage; Oral Apraxia; Verbal Apraxia