Use of fMRI in the Study of Chronic Aphasia Recovery After Therapy: A Case Study

Purpose: The role of intensity of aphasia therapy was investigated using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to document changes in neural activation patterns associated with massed versus distributed therapy in an individual with chronic conduction aphasia. Method: Language therapy targete...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Topics in stroke rehabilitation 2008-09, Vol.15 (5), p.468-483
Main Authors: Harnish, Stacy M., Neils-Strunjas, Jean, Lamy, Martine, Eliassen, James
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aphasia
Aphasia - physiopathology
Aphasia - rehabilitation
Aphasia - therapy
Basal Ganglia - physiology
Brain
Cerebral Cortex - physiology
Chronic Disease
Dominance, Cerebral - physiology
Female
fMRI
Humans
intensity
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Middle Aged
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Recovery of Function - physiology
rehabilitation
Speech Therapy
Studies
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Summary:Purpose: The role of intensity of aphasia therapy was investigated using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to document changes in neural activation patterns associated with massed versus distributed therapy in an individual with chronic conduction aphasia. Method: Language therapy targeted word-finding deficits and phonological processing. fMRI scans were acquired at baseline, after massed therapy, and after distributed therapy. Results: Treatment was effective, as demonstrated by increases in performance on standardized measures, narrative analysis, and task performance in the fMRI scanner. Task improvement across fMRI testing sessions corresponded with increases in fMRI blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal. Greatest behavioral gains and BOLD signal increases occurred after massed therapy, with slight gains accompanying distributed therapy. Increases in fMRI BOLD signal occurred after therapy in left basal ganglia and right hemisphere frontotemporal cortex. Conclusions: Intensity of aphasia therapy impacts the recovery process and warrants additional research. Basal ganglia and right hemisphere structures may be important neural substrates for aphasia recovery.
ISSN:1074-9357
1945-5119
DOI:10.1310/tsr1505-468