Aphasia

Question 1

How is language represented in the brain

Answer 1

It is unilaterally represented - for most people in the dominant left hemisphere

Question 2

How is language represented in the right hemisphere

Answer 2

Communication and language processing - understanding humour and metaphors

Question 3

Where is Brocas area and what does damage to this cause

Answer 3

The third convolution in the frontal lobe of left hemisphere.
Damage = difficulties formulating expressive language (spoken language is non-fluent), but understand language well

Question 4

Where is Wernickes area and what does damage to it cause

Answer 4

Left temporo-parietal region
Damage = difficulties understanding language but have fluent spoken language

Question 5

What does non-fluent spoken language look like

Answer 5

hesitant, interrupted, not many word, not much sentence structure, are aware they aren’t making sense

Question 6

What does fluent spoken language look like

Answer 6

Produce long runs of words, little effort needed, words said are real but don’t make sense, often aren’t aware they are not making sense

Question 7

What does cognitive neuropsychology study

Answer 7

Studies how info is processed and retained in the brain. It builds theories of normal processing

Question 8

What are the 2 phases in spontaneous aphasia recovery

Answer 8

Acute phase (3 weeks after stroke) and
subacute (up to 6 months)

Question 9

What does longer term aphasia recovery look like

Answer 9

Mainly therapy related - but neuroplastic change can still occur

Question 10

What is neuroplasticity/cortical plasticity - what principle is related to this

Answer 10

Learning + behaviour induced changes to synaptic connections.
Fundamental principle for rehabilitation - the brain (despite age) is flexible and capable of change structurally and functionally.