title: Evidence of cortical reorganization of language networks after stroke with subacute Broca's aphasia: a blood oxygenation level dependent-functional magnetic resonance imaging study.
abstract: Aphasia is an acquired language disorder that is a common consequence of stroke. The pathogenesis of the disease is not fully understood, and as a result, current treatment options are not satisfactory. Here, we used blood oxygenation level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate the activation of bilateral cortices in patients with Broca's aphasia 1 to 3 months after stroke. Our results showed that language expression was associated with multiple brain regions in which the right hemisphere participated in the generation of language. The activation areas in the left hemisphere of aphasia patients were significantly smaller compared with those in healthy adults. The activation frequency, volumes, and intensity in the regions related to language, such as the left inferior frontal gyrus (Broca's area), the left superior temporal gyrus, and the right inferior frontal gyrus (the mirror region of Broca's area), were lower in patients compared with healthy adults. In contrast, activation in the right superior temporal gyrus, the bilateral superior parietal lobule, and the left inferior temporal gyrus was stronger in patients compared with healthy controls. These results suggest that the right inferior frontal gyrus plays a role in the recovery of language function in the subacute stage of stroke-related aphasia by increasing the engagement of related brain areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Hong
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0020-8659
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Xiang
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Lu
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhuang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Cong
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Kui
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2642-5213
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Rong
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Qing
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Gui-Fang
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Shao-Qiong
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: Perisylvian language regions; brain activation; cortical functional connectivity; functional magnetic resonance imaging; language regions; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; neuroplasticity; picture-naming task; right hemisphere