Functional MRI of Language Processing and Recovery

Abstract

My thesis describe the utility of implementing fMRI to investigate how the language system is reorganized in brain damaged patients. Specifically for aphasia research fMRI allows to show how specific language treatment methods have the potential to enhance language reorganization and therefore optimize language recovery. Chapter 2 provides a brief introduction into the basics of language fMRI and task design for current applications of this technique in both clinical and research practice. I also summarized how different language levels have been explored with a variety of language tasks that have improved the neuroanatomical models of language processing. Chapter 3 explores the cerebro-cerebellar language lateralization pattern in healthy participants and in brain tumors patients with a focus on atypical language representation. Chapter 4 studies the differential auditory processing of spoken and melodically intoned language underlying MIT therapy. Chapter 5 focuses on the neural substrate of phonological and semantic auditory, i.e. receptive, processing in healthy older adults, group who is more applicable to aphasia research. I specifically focused on the functional specialization within the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), given its proposed important role for the recovery of language functions in aphasia. Chapter 6 explores the relationship between language lateralization and language recovery, both at the level of language production and comprehension, in 36 patients with mild and severe chronic aphasia after left hemispheric stroke. Chapter 7 investigates whether intensive MIT induces a shift in language lateralization in sub-acute and chronic non-fluent aphasic patients.