Asked by Casey Conrad on Jul 11, 2024
Verified
After a mild stroke,Mr. McGeorge showed some signs of aphasia. What pattern of symptoms would lead you to believe the damage occurred primarily in (a)Broca's area,(b)Wernicke's area,(c)the angular gyrus.
Aphasia
A condition characterized by the loss of the ability to understand or express speech, caused by brain damage.
Broca's Area
A region in the frontal lobe of the dominant hemisphere, usually the left, associated with speech production.
Wernicke's Area
Wernicke's Area is a brain region responsible for the comprehension of speech and language processing.
- Determine the effects of damage to targeted regions of the cerebral cortex on speech and language capabilities.
- Identify the distribution of functions across the cerebral cortex.
Verified Answer
AB
Alyssa BrumbaughJul 11, 2024
Final Answer :
After a mild stroke, if Mr. McGeorge is showing signs of aphasia, the pattern of symptoms can help localize the area of the brain that has been affected. Aphasia is a language disorder that results from damage to portions of the brain that are responsible for language. The symptoms vary depending on the location of the brain damage. Here's how symptoms can be associated with damage to specific areas:
(a) Broca's area: If the damage occurred primarily in Broca's area, Mr. McGeorge would likely exhibit non-fluent aphasia. This means he would have difficulty with speech production. His speech would be slow, labored, and lacking in fluency. He might speak in short, fragmented sentences and omit small words like "is" or "the." Despite these difficulties, he would typically understand spoken language relatively well and be aware of his difficulties, which can be frustrating for him. Broca's area is located in the posterior part of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, and is associated with speech production and articulation.
(b) Wernicke's area: If the damage occurred primarily in Wernicke's area, Mr. McGeorge would likely exhibit fluent aphasia, also known as receptive aphasia or Wernicke's aphasia. He would be able to produce speech that is normal in rhythm and fluency but would have difficulty understanding spoken language. His own speech might be nonsensical or jumbled, with made-up words and a lack of meaningful content. He might not be aware of his mistakes and could have difficulty in comprehending both spoken and written language. Wernicke's area is located in the superior temporal gyrus of the left hemisphere and is associated with the comprehension of language.
(c) Angular gyrus: If the damage occurred primarily in the angular gyrus, Mr. McGeorge might exhibit symptoms of anomic or conduction aphasia, where he would have difficulty with word-finding (anomia) and may substitute or confuse words. He might speak fluently and understand spoken language well but have trouble naming objects, people, or colors, or he might have difficulty repeating words or phrases. Reading and writing can also be affected. The angular gyrus is part of the parietal lobe near the border with the temporal lobe and is involved in complex language functions, including reading, writing, and the integration of sensory information for comprehension.
Each type of aphasia is associated with its own pattern of language deficits, and the precise symptoms can vary from person to person. A thorough assessment by a speech-language pathologist or a neuropsychologist can help determine the specific nature of the aphasia and the most likely location of the brain damage.
(a) Broca's area: If the damage occurred primarily in Broca's area, Mr. McGeorge would likely exhibit non-fluent aphasia. This means he would have difficulty with speech production. His speech would be slow, labored, and lacking in fluency. He might speak in short, fragmented sentences and omit small words like "is" or "the." Despite these difficulties, he would typically understand spoken language relatively well and be aware of his difficulties, which can be frustrating for him. Broca's area is located in the posterior part of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, and is associated with speech production and articulation.
(b) Wernicke's area: If the damage occurred primarily in Wernicke's area, Mr. McGeorge would likely exhibit fluent aphasia, also known as receptive aphasia or Wernicke's aphasia. He would be able to produce speech that is normal in rhythm and fluency but would have difficulty understanding spoken language. His own speech might be nonsensical or jumbled, with made-up words and a lack of meaningful content. He might not be aware of his mistakes and could have difficulty in comprehending both spoken and written language. Wernicke's area is located in the superior temporal gyrus of the left hemisphere and is associated with the comprehension of language.
(c) Angular gyrus: If the damage occurred primarily in the angular gyrus, Mr. McGeorge might exhibit symptoms of anomic or conduction aphasia, where he would have difficulty with word-finding (anomia) and may substitute or confuse words. He might speak fluently and understand spoken language well but have trouble naming objects, people, or colors, or he might have difficulty repeating words or phrases. Reading and writing can also be affected. The angular gyrus is part of the parietal lobe near the border with the temporal lobe and is involved in complex language functions, including reading, writing, and the integration of sensory information for comprehension.
Each type of aphasia is associated with its own pattern of language deficits, and the precise symptoms can vary from person to person. A thorough assessment by a speech-language pathologist or a neuropsychologist can help determine the specific nature of the aphasia and the most likely location of the brain damage.
Learning Objectives
- Determine the effects of damage to targeted regions of the cerebral cortex on speech and language capabilities.
- Identify the distribution of functions across the cerebral cortex.