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Ahmed S, Caswell J, Butler CR, Bose A. Secondary language impairment in posterior cortical atrophy: insights from sentence repetition. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1359186. [PMID: 38576871 PMCID: PMC10993779 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1359186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by progressive impairment in visuospatial and perceptual function linked to atrophy of the occipito-parietal cortex. Besides the salient visual impairment, several studies have documented subtle changes in language may also be present. Sentence repetition is a highly constrained linguistic task involving multiple linguistic and cognitive processes and have been shown to be impaired in other AD spectrum disorders, with little consensus on its relevance in PCA. This aim of this study was to further delineate the linguistic and cognitive features of impaired language in PCA using a sentence repetition task. Method Seven PCA patients and 16 healthy controls verbally repeated 16 sentences from the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination. Responses were transcribed orthographically and coded for accuracy (percentage accuracy; percentage Correct Information Units; Levenshtein Distance) and for temporal characteristics (preparation duration (ms); utterance duration (ms); silent pause duration (ms); speech duration (ms); dysfluency duration (ms)). The potential modulating effects of attentional control and working memory capacity were explored. Results PCA patients showed lower overall accuracy with retained semantic content of the sentences, and lower phonological accuracy. Temporal measures revealed longer preparation and utterance duration for PCA patients compared to controls, alongside longer speech duration but comparable dysfluency duration. PCA patients also showed comparable silent pause duration to controls. Attentional control, measured using the Hayling sentence completion task, predicted accuracy of sentence repetition. Discussion The findings suggest that sentence repetition is impaired in PCA and is characterized by phonological, response planning and execution difficulties, underpinned in part by attentional control mechanisms. The emerging profile of language impairment in PCA suggests vulnerability of similar cognitive systems to other Alzheimer's syndromes, with subtle differences in clinical presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samrah Ahmed
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Josie Caswell
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher R. Butler
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Arpita Bose
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
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Teplansky KJ, Wisler A, Goffman L, Wang J. The Impact of Stimulus Length in Tongue and Lip Movement Pattern Stability in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2023:1-13. [PMID: 37988653 DOI: 10.1044/2023_jslhr-23-00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the effect of stimulus signal length on tongue and lip motion pattern stability in speakers diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared to healthy controls. METHOD Electromagnetic articulography was used to derive articulatory motion patterns from individuals with mild (n = 27) and severe (n = 16) ALS and healthy controls (n = 25). The spatiotemporal index (STI) was used as a measure of articulatory stability. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate signal length effects on the STI: (a) the effect of the number of syllables on STI values and (b) increasing lengths of subcomponents of a single phrase. Two-way mixed analyses of variance were conducted to assess the effects of syllable length and group on the STI for the tongue tip (TT), tongue back (TB), and lower lip (LL). RESULTS Experiment 1 showed a significant main effect of syllable length (TT, p < .001; TB, p < .001; and LL, p < .001) and group (TT, p = .037; TB, p = .007; and LL, p = .017). TB and LL stability was generally higher with speech stimuli that included a greater number of syllables. Articulatory variability was significantly higher in speakers diagnosed with ALS compared to healthy controls. Experiment 2 showed a significant main effect of length (TT, p < .001; TB, p = .015; and LL, p < .001), providing additional support that STI values tend to be greater when calculated on longer speech signals. CONCLUSIONS Articulatory stability is influenced by the length of speech signals and manifests similarly in both healthy speakers and persons with ALS. TT stability may be significantly impacted by phonemic content due to greater movement flexibility. Compared to healthy controls, there was an increase in articulatory variability in those with ALS, which likely reflects deviations in speech motor control. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24463924.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin J Teplansky
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
| | - Alan Wisler
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Utah State University, Logan
| | - Lisa Goffman
- Callier Center for Communication Disorders, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas at Austin
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Wisler A, Goffman L, Zhang L, Wang J. Influences of Methodological Decisions on Assessing the Spatiotemporal Stability of Speech Movement Sequences. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2022; 65:538-554. [PMID: 35077649 PMCID: PMC9132147 DOI: 10.1044/2021_jslhr-21-00298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The spatiotemporal index (STI) is a widely used approach for measuring speech pattern stability across multiple repetitions of a stimulus. In this study, we examine how methodological choices in the implementation of the STI (including the number of repetitions, length of stimuli, and parsing procedure) can affect its value. METHOD To evaluate how each methodological decision affects the STI, we use a synthetic data framework that allows for the generation of random productions of the template phrase "Buy Bobby a Puppy" at different stability levels. Within this framework, we conduct three experiments: Experiment 1 investigates the effects of the number of repetitions, Experiment 2 investigates the effects of stimulus length, and Experiment 3 investigates the effects of parsing errors. RESULTS In Experiment 1, we observed that STI values based on fewer repetitions will systematically underestimate larger repetition estimates. Experiment 2 showed that STI values will tend to be higher when calculated on longer (multimovement) stimuli independent of any differences in the stability of the underlying speech patterns. Finally, in Experiment 3, we showed that even minor parsing errors (≈ 10 ms) increase the value of the STI. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study illustrate that even minor choices in the implementation of the STI can have a noticeable impact on the resulting value. These findings highlight the care that needs to be taken when designing studies and comparing STI values across studies to ensure that different STI values are capturing real differences in motion pattern stability rather than trivial methodological variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Wisler
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Utah State University, Logan
| | - Lisa Goffman
- Callier Center for Communication Disorders, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas
| | - Ling Zhang
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, San Diego, CA
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
- Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin
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Vila-Nova C, Lucena PH, Lucena R, Armani-Franceschi G, Campbell FQ. Effect of Anodal tDCS on Articulatory Accuracy, Word Production, and Syllable Repetition in Subjects with Aphasia: A Crossover, Double-Blinded, Sham-Controlled Trial. Neurol Ther 2019; 8:411-424. [PMID: 31432434 PMCID: PMC6858895 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-019-00149-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) has been used to modulate and induce changes in brain function and excitability. tDCS is a promising tool for the treatment of aphasia. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether tDCS improves articulatory accuracy and speech production in patients with aphasia after stroke. METHODS AND RESULTS Twelve right-handed subjects participated in a double-blind, sham-controlled, crossover offline trial. We assessed (1) articulatory accuracy at a naming task, (2) number of words correctly produced, (3) number of syllables repeated correctly, and (4) qualitative assessment of speech. Articulatory accuracy improved when using tDCS over Broca's area in subjects with aphasia post-stroke (p ≤ 0.05). Qualitative improvement in the naming and syllable repetition tasks was observed, but the difference was not statistically significant (respectively, p = 0.15 and p = 0.79). CONCLUSION The current results corroborate the potential of tDCS to be used as an alternative and complementary treatment for individuals with aphasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Vila-Nova
- União Metropolitana de Educação e Cultura-UNIME, Kroton and University of the State of Bahia, Avenida Luis Tarquínio Pontes, 600, Lauro de Freitas, BA, Brazil.
| | - Pedro H Lucena
- Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Av. Dom João VI, 275, Brotas, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Rita Lucena
- School of Medicine of Bahia, Federal University of Bahia, Av. Luis Viana Filho S/N, Canela, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | | | - Fernanda Q Campbell
- The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA, USA
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Salis C, Martin N, Meehan SV, McCaffery K. Short-term memory span in aphasia: Insights from speech-timing measures. JOURNAL OF NEUROLINGUISTICS 2018; 48:176-189. [PMID: 30455550 PMCID: PMC6238645 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroling.2018.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Auditory-verbal short-term memory impairments are part and parcel of aphasia and interfere with linguistic processing. To date, the science about short-term memory impairments in aphasia has been generated and dominated by studying measures of accuracy, that is, span length. Because accuracy is expressed through speech, examining the speech-timing characteristics of persons with aphasia as they engage in spoken recall could reveal insights about the manner in which accuracy is achieved. Six speech-timing measures (e.g., response durations, pause durations) were elicited from the speech waveform of word span tasks from twelve people with aphasia. Speech-timing measures were compared to neuro-typical control participants. Speech-timing performance between erroneous and correct responses in the aphasia group was also examined. Across all measures, people with aphasia produced considerably longer speech-timing patterns in comparison to control participants. Memory load affected some measures in people with aphasia and control participants. Speech-timing in correct response trials was shorter than responses in erroneous trials. Memory span correlated only with one measure, namely, speech time (defined as the sum of each individual word duration in a response). Speech time also correlated with the following measures: Aphasia severity (Aphasia Quotient of the Western Aphasia Battery), spontaneous speech, and language comprehension (also measured by the Western Aphasia Battery). Some protracted speech-timing patterns in the aphasia group may be explained by a deregulation of activation-decay patterns. However, in the absence of further evidence from people with aphasia, possible issues around the sensitivity of some speech-timing measures limit firmer conclusions. Speech-timing measures are response-time measures, which have not been systematically studied in studies of short-term or working memory in aphasia and as such, can push the current boundaries of knowledge of short-term and working memory impairments in aphasia, not only in stroke related aphasia but also other neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Salis
- Newcastle University, Speech & Language Sciences, King George VI building, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK, +44 191 208 8875,
| | - Nadine Martin
- Temple University, Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Ritter Annex, 1301 Cecil B Moore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA, +1 215 204 1870
| | - Sarah V Meehan
- Temple University, Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Ritter Annex, 1301 Cecil B Moore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA, +1 215 204 1870
| | - Kevin McCaffery
- Temple University, Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Ritter Annex, 1301 Cecil B Moore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA, +1 215 204 1870
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Murray L, Salis C, Martin N, Dralle J. The use of standardised short-term and working memory tests in aphasia research: a systematic review. Neuropsychol Rehabil 2016; 28:309-351. [PMID: 27143500 DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2016.1174718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Impairments of short-term and working memory (STM, WM), both verbal and non-verbal, are ubiquitous in aphasia. Increasing interest in assessing STM and WM in aphasia research and clinical practice as well as a growing evidence base of STM/WM treatments for aphasia warrant an understanding of the range of standardised STM/WM measures that have been utilised in aphasia. To date, however, no previous systematic review has focused on aphasia. Accordingly, the goals of this systematic review were: (1) to identify standardised tests of STM and WM utilised in the aphasia literature, (2) to evaluate critically the psychometric strength of these tests, and (3) to appraise critically the quality of the investigations utilising these tests. Results revealed that a very limited number of standardised tests, in the verbal and non-verbal domains, had robust psychometric properties. Standardisation samples to elicit normative data were often small, and most measures exhibited poor validity and reliability properties. Studies using these tests inconsistently documented demographic and aphasia variables essential to interpreting STM/WM test outcomes. In light of these findings, recommendations are provided to foster, in the future, consistency across aphasia studies and confidence in STM/WM tests as assessment and treatment outcome measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Murray
- a Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences , Indiana University , Bloomington , IN , USA
| | - Christos Salis
- b Speech & Language Sciences , Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK
| | - Nadine Martin
- c Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders , Temple University , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| | - Jenny Dralle
- d Department of Neurology , Brandenburgklinik , Bernau bei Berlin , Germany
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Bose A, van Lieshout P. Speech-like and non-speech lip kinematics and coordination in aphasia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION DISORDERS 2012; 47:654-672. [PMID: 23121525 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-6984.2012.00171.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In addition to the well-known linguistic processing impairments in aphasia, oro-motor skills and articulatory implementation of speech segments are reported to be compromised to some degree in most types of aphasia. AIMS This study aimed to identify differences in the characteristics and coordination of lip movements in the production of a bilabial closure gesture between speech-like and non-speech tasks in individuals with aphasia and healthy control subjects. METHODS & PROCEDURES Upper and lower lip movement data were collected for a speech-like and a non-speech task using an AG 100 EMMA system from five individuals with aphasia and five age- and gender-matched control subjects. Each task was produced at two rate conditions (normal and fast), and in a familiar and a less familiar manner. Single articulator kinematic parameters (peak velocity, amplitude, duration and cyclic spatio-temporal index) and multi-articulator coordination indices (average relative phase and variability of relative phase) were measured to characterize lip movements. OUTCOMES & RESULTS The results showed that when the two lips had similar task goals (bilabial closure) in speech-like and non-speech task, kinematic and coordination characteristics were not found to be different. However, when changes in rate were imposed on the bilabial gesture, only speech-like task showed functional adaptations, indicated by a greater decrease in amplitude and duration at fast rates. In terms of group differences, individuals with aphasia showed smaller amplitudes and longer movement durations for upper lip, higher spatio-temporal variability for both lips, and higher variability in lip coordination than the control speakers. Rate was an important factor in distinguishing the two groups, and individuals with aphasia were limited in implementing the rate changes. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS The findings support the notion of subtle but robust differences in motor control characteristics between individuals with aphasia and the control participants, even in the context of producing bilabial closing gestures for a relatively simple speech-like task. The findings also highlight the functional differences between speech-like and non-speech tasks, despite a common movement coordination goal for bilabial closure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Bose
- Department of Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
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Bartle-Meyer CJ, Goozee JV, Murdoch BE. Kinematic investigation of lingual movement in words of increasing length in acquired apraxia of speech. CLINICAL LINGUISTICS & PHONETICS 2009; 23:93-121. [PMID: 19197580 DOI: 10.1080/02699200802564284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The current study aimed to use electromagnetic articulography (EMA) to investigate the effect of increasing word length on lingual kinematics in acquired apraxia of speech (AOS). Tongue-tip and tongue-back movement was recorded for five speakers with AOS and a concomitant aphasia (mean age = 53.6 years; SD = 12.60) during target consonant production (i.e. /t, s, k/ singletons; /kl, sk/ clusters), for one and two syllable stimuli. The results obtained for each of the participants with AOS were individually compared to those obtained by a control group (n = 12; mean age = 52.08 years; SD = 12.52). Results indicated that the participants with AOS exhibited longer movement durations and, in some instances, larger tongue movements during consonant singletons and consonant cluster constituents embedded within mono- and multisyllabic utterances. Despite this, two participants with AOS exhibited a word length effect that was comparable with the control speakers, and possibly indicative of an intact phonological system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly J Bartle-Meyer
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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