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Preserved repetition in thalamic afasia. A pathophysiological hypothesis

Authors :
Ricardo Nitrini
Leandro T. Lucato
Maria C. Sitta
Maíra O. Oliveira
Daniel Ciampi de Andrade
Valquiria A. Silva
Camila G. Carneiro
Carlos A. Buchpiguel
Source :
Dementia & Neuropsychologia, Vol 13, Iss 2, Pp 244-249 (2019)
Publication Year :
2019
Publisher :
Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento, 2019.

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The ability to repeat words is almost always preserved in thalamic aphasia. The pathophysiology of both thalamic aphasia and preservation of repetition are not fully understood. In a case of severe aphasia with preserved repetition after a left thalamic hemorrhage, MRI disclosed left thalamic lesion and loss of fractional anisotropy in the left centrum semiovale. FDG-PET showed severe hypometabolism in the left cerebral hemisphere, except for superior and transverse temporal gyri, calcarine fissure and frontopolar regions. Primary sensory function may be less functionally dependent on thalamic connections than heteromodal and paralimbic areas, which have connections with several thalamic nuclei. The extensive cortical hypometabolism due to diaschisis may have been responsible for the severity of the aphasia, whereas the less severe reduction of metabolism in the superior and transverse temporal gyri, and also, albeit less evident, in Broca’s area, might explain the preservation of repetition.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19805764
Volume :
13
Issue :
2
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Dementia & Neuropsychologia
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.265594dfda48ccb07a48b659d30a35
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-57642018dn13-020015