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Ding J, Yang Q, Drossinos N, Guo Q. Advances in semantic dementia: Neuropsychology, pathology & neuroimaging. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 99:102375. [PMID: 38866186 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Semantic dementia is a kind of neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by prominent semantic impairments and anterior temporal lobe atrophy. Since 2010, more studies have devoted to this rare disorder, revealing that it is more complex than we think. Clinical advances include more specific findings of semantic impairments and other higher order cognitive deficits. Neuroimaging techniques can help revealing the different brain networks affected (both structurally and functionally) in this condition. Pathological and genetic studies have also found more complex situations of semantic dementia, which might explain the huge variance existing in semantic dementia. Moreover, the current diagnosis criteria mainly focus on semantic dementia's classical prototype. We further delineated the features of three subtypes of semantic dementia based on atrophy lateralization with three severity stages. In a broader background, as a part of the continuum of neurodegenerative disorders, semantic dementia is commonly compared with other resembling conditions. Therefore, we summarized the differential diagnosis between semantic dementia and them. Finally, we introduced the challenges and achievements of its diagnosis, treatment, care and cross cultural comparison. By providing a comprehensive picture of semantic dementia on different aspects of advances, we hope to deepen the understanding of semantic dementia and promote more inspirations on both clinical and theoretical studies about it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhua Ding
- Department of Gerontology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Qing Yang
- Department of Rehabilitation, Hushan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Niki Drossinos
- Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Qihao Guo
- Department of Gerontology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Kintz S, Kim H, Wright HH. A preliminary investigation on core lexicon analysis in dementia of the Alzheimer's type. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION DISORDERS 2024; 59:1336-1350. [PMID: 38165595 DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.12999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Core lexicon (CL) analysis is a time efficient and possibly reliable measure that captures discourse production abilities. For people with aphasia, CL scores have demonstrated correlations with aphasia severity, as well as other discourse and linguistic measures. It was also found to be clinician-friendly and clinically sensitive enough to capture longitudinal changes in aphasia. To our knowledge, CL has never been investigated in individuals with neurologically progressive disease. AIMS As a preliminary investigation, we sought to investigate (1) whether CL scores correlate with dementia severity, (2) whether CL scores correlate with measures of discourse quality, and (3) whether CL scores correlate with other measures of lexical/semantic access. METHODS & PROCEDURES Twelve participants with a cognitive impairment associated with dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) completed several measures of language and cognitive ability, as well as provide a language sample from the wordless picture book, Picnic. RESULTS & CONCLUSION Results are informative, as they provide insight into characteristics of CL and provide support for potential use of CL in individuals with neurologically progressive disease. The results indicated that CL scores do correlate with dementia severity and several measures of language ability, indicating they may provide a useful measure of language abilities in DAT, but more research is needed. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject Core lexicon (CL) analysis is an assessment measure of discourse ability, most closely related to informativeness or productivity, used in aphasiology that is easier to use and less time consuming than previous measures of informativeness, such as correct information units or type-token ratio (TTR). For people with aphasia, CL analysis correlates with aphasia severity, measures of informativeness, as well as other measures of discourse quality. It has also been shown to be faster and more reliable between scorers than other informativeness measures. What this study adds Core lexicon analysis is a new simple and online method for assessing the informativeness of a discourse sample without the need to record or transcribe the language sample. CL is receiving a lot of attention in aphasia, correlating with everything from aphasia severity to measures of productivity and lexical access, as well as measures of informativeness. Unfortunately, no one has investigated CL analysis in dementia. The study demonstrates the first evidence that CL analysis may be a useful measure for determining dementia severity and language quality in people with dementia. What are the clinical implications of this work? Core lexicon analysis may provide clinicians and researchers with an easy method for assessing the discourse of people with a cognitive impairment associated with dementia of the Alzheimer's type. This will improve initial assessment, as well as improve ongoing language assessment that may provide clues into their functional ability to communicate effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Kintz
- Department of Speech Language Pathology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Hana Kim
- Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa Bay, Florida, USA
| | - Heather Harris Wright
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
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Haitas N, Dubuc J, Massé-Leblanc C, Chamberland V, Amiri M, Glatard T, Wilson M, Joanette Y, Steffener J. Registered report: Age-preserved semantic memory and the CRUNCH effect manifested as differential semantic control networks: An fMRI study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0289384. [PMID: 38917084 PMCID: PMC11198863 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Semantic memory representations are generally well maintained in aging, whereas semantic control is thought to be more affected. To explain this phenomenon, this study tested the predictions of the Compensation-Related Utilization of Neural Circuits Hypothesis (CRUNCH), focusing on task demands in aging as a possible framework. The CRUNCH effect would manifest itself in semantic tasks through a compensatory increase in neural activation in semantic control network regions but only up to a certain threshold of task demands. This study compares 39 younger (20-35 years old) with 39 older participants (60-75 years old) in a triad-based semantic judgment task performed in an fMRI scanner while manipulating task demand levels (low versus high) through semantic distance. In line with the CRUNCH predictions, differences in neurofunctional activation and behavioral performance (accuracy and response times) were expected in younger versus older participants in the low- versus high-demand conditions, which should be manifested in semantic control Regions of Interest (ROIs). Our older participants had intact behavioral performance, as proposed in the literature for semantic memory tasks (maintained accuracy and slower response times (RTs)). Age-invariant behavioral performance in the older group compared to the younger one is necessary to test the CRUNCH predictions. The older adults were also characterized by high cognitive reserve, as our neuropsychological tests showed. Our behavioral results confirmed that our task successfully manipulated task demands: error rates, RTs and perceived difficulty increased with increasing task demands in both age groups. We did not find an interaction between age group and task demand, or a statistically significant difference in activation between the low- and high-demand conditions for either RTs or accuracy. As for brain activation, we did not find the expected age group by task demand interaction, or a significant main effect of task demand. Overall, our results are compatible with some neural activation in the semantic network and the semantic control network, largely in frontotemporoparietal regions. ROI analyses demonstrated significant effects (but no interactions) of task demand in the left and right inferior frontal gyrus, the left posterior middle temporal gyrus, the posterior inferior temporal gyrus and the prefrontal gyrus. Overall, our test did not confirm the CRUNCH predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niobe Haitas
- Laboratory of Communication and Aging, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jade Dubuc
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Vincent Chamberland
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mahnoush Amiri
- Laboratory of Communication and Aging, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Tristan Glatard
- Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Maximiliano Wilson
- Centre de Recherche CERVO – CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale et Département de Réadaptation, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Yves Joanette
- Laboratory of Communication and Aging, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jason Steffener
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Rouse MA, Binney RJ, Patterson K, Rowe JB, Lambon Ralph MA. A neuroanatomical and cognitive model of impaired social behaviour in frontotemporal dementia. Brain 2024; 147:1953-1966. [PMID: 38334506 PMCID: PMC11146431 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Impaired social cognition is a core deficit in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). It is most commonly associated with the behavioural-variant of FTD, with atrophy of the orbitofrontal and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Social cognitive changes are also common in semantic dementia, with atrophy centred on the anterior temporal lobes. The impairment of social behaviour in FTD has typically been attributed to damage to the orbitofrontal cortex and/or temporal poles and/or the uncinate fasciculus that connects them. However, the relative contributions of each region are unresolved. In this review, we present a unified neurocognitive model of controlled social behaviour that not only explains the observed impairment of social behaviours in FTD, but also assimilates both consistent and potentially contradictory findings from other patient groups, comparative neurology and normative cognitive neuroscience. We propose that impaired social behaviour results from damage to two cognitively- and anatomically-distinct components. The first component is social-semantic knowledge, a part of the general semantic-conceptual system supported by the anterior temporal lobes bilaterally. The second component is social control, supported by the orbitofrontal cortex, medial frontal cortex and ventrolateral frontal cortex, which interacts with social-semantic knowledge to guide and shape social behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Rouse
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 7EF, UK
| | - Richard J Binney
- Cognitive Neuroscience Institute, Department of Psychology, School of Human and Behavioural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2AS, UK
| | - Karalyn Patterson
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 7EF, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - James B Rowe
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 7EF, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
- Department of Neurology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
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Fedorenko E, Piantadosi ST, Gibson EAF. Language is primarily a tool for communication rather than thought. Nature 2024; 630:575-586. [PMID: 38898296 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07522-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Language is a defining characteristic of our species, but the function, or functions, that it serves has been debated for centuries. Here we bring recent evidence from neuroscience and allied disciplines to argue that in modern humans, language is a tool for communication, contrary to a prominent view that we use language for thinking. We begin by introducing the brain network that supports linguistic ability in humans. We then review evidence for a double dissociation between language and thought, and discuss several properties of language that suggest that it is optimized for communication. We conclude that although the emergence of language has unquestionably transformed human culture, language does not appear to be a prerequisite for complex thought, including symbolic thought. Instead, language is a powerful tool for the transmission of cultural knowledge; it plausibly co-evolved with our thinking and reasoning capacities, and only reflects, rather than gives rise to, the signature sophistication of human cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Fedorenko
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Speech and Hearing in Bioscience and Technology Program at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
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Wu W, Lohani S, Homan T, Krieger-Redwood K, Hoffman P. Healthy ageing has divergent effects on verbal and non-verbal semantic cognition. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2024; 77:1179-1189. [PMID: 37542428 PMCID: PMC11103919 DOI: 10.1177/17470218231195341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Semantic cognition refers to the storage and appropriate use of knowledge acquired over the lifespan and underpins our everyday verbal and non-verbal behaviours. Successful semantic cognition requires representation of knowledge and control processes which ensure that currently relevant aspects of knowledge are retrieved and selected. Although these abilities have been widely studied in healthy young populations and semantically impaired patients, it is unclear how they change as a function of healthy ageing, especially for non-verbal semantic processing. Here, we addressed this issue by comparing the performance profiles of young and older people on a semantic knowledge task and a semantic control task, across verbal (word) and non-verbal (picture) versions. The results revealed distinct patterns of change during adulthood for semantic knowledge and semantic control. Older people performed better in both verbal and non-verbal knowledge tasks than young people. However, although the older group showed preserved controlled retrieval for verbal semantics, they demonstrated a specific impairment for non-verbal semantic control. These findings indicate that the effects of ageing on semantic cognition are more complex than previously assumed, and that input modality plays an important role in the shifting cognitive architecture of semantics in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wu
- School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Suchismita Lohani
- School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Taylore Homan
- School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Paul Hoffman
- School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Timofeeva P, Finisguerra A, D’Argenio G, García AM, Carreiras M, Quiñones I, Urgesi C, Amoruso L. Switching off: disruptive TMS reveals distinct contributions of the posterior middle temporal gyrus and angular gyrus to bilingual speech production. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae188. [PMID: 38741267 PMCID: PMC11090997 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The role of the left temporoparietal cortex in speech production has been extensively studied during native language processing, proving crucial in controlled lexico-semantic retrieval under varying cognitive demands. Yet, its role in bilinguals, fluent in both native and second languages, remains poorly understood. Here, we employed continuous theta burst stimulation to disrupt neural activity in the left posterior middle-temporal gyrus (pMTG) and angular gyrus (AG) while Italian-Friulian bilinguals performed a cued picture-naming task. The task involved between-language (naming objects in Italian or Friulian) and within-language blocks (naming objects ["knife"] or associated actions ["cut"] in a single language) in which participants could either maintain (non-switch) or change (switch) instructions based on cues. During within-language blocks, cTBS over the pMTG entailed faster naming for high-demanding switch trials, while cTBS to the AG elicited slower latencies in low-demanding non-switch trials. No cTBS effects were observed in the between-language block. Our findings suggest a causal involvement of the left pMTG and AG in lexico-semantic processing across languages, with distinct contributions to controlled vs. "automatic" retrieval, respectively. However, they do not support the existence of shared control mechanisms within and between language(s) production. Altogether, these results inform neurobiological models of semantic control in bilinguals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina Timofeeva
- BCBL, Basque Center on Cognition, Brain, and Language (BCBL), Paseo Mikeletegi 69, 2nd floor, 20009 San Sebastian, Spain
- Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Doctoral School, 48940, Sarriena s/n, Leioa, Spain
| | - Alessandra Finisguerra
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Via Cialdini 29, 33037, Pasian di Prato, UD, Italy
| | - Giulia D’Argenio
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, Via Margreth 3, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Adolfo M García
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), University of San Andres, Vito Dumas 284, B1644 BID, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), University of California, Parnassus 513, CA 94143, San Franscisco, United States & Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, D02X9W9, Ireland
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Av. Libertador B. O'Higgins 3363, 9170022, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Manuel Carreiras
- BCBL, Basque Center on Cognition, Brain, and Language (BCBL), Paseo Mikeletegi 69, 2nd floor, 20009 San Sebastian, Spain
- Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Doctoral School, 48940, Sarriena s/n, Leioa, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, 48009, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Ileana Quiñones
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, 48009, Bilbao, Spain
- Neurosciences Department, BioGipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Paseo Dr. Begiristain s/n, 20014, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Cosimo Urgesi
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Via Cialdini 29, 33037, Pasian di Prato, UD, Italy
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, Via Margreth 3, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Lucia Amoruso
- BCBL, Basque Center on Cognition, Brain, and Language (BCBL), Paseo Mikeletegi 69, 2nd floor, 20009 San Sebastian, Spain
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), University of San Andres, Vito Dumas 284, B1644 BID, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, 48009, Bilbao, Spain
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Monetta L, Boland A, Macoir J, Sheppard CL, Taler V. The Quebec Semantic Memory Battery: Development, Standardization, and Psychometric Assessment of a Semantic Memory Battery in French. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2024:acae029. [PMID: 38615178 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acae029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE People with aphasia often experience semantic memory (SM) impairment. To improve diagnostic outcomes, SM tasks should recruit various sensory input channels (oral, written, and pictographic), permitting accessible, complete evaluation. There is a need for SM batteries for French-speaking Quebecers that use multiple input channels. The present study, therefore, describes the development of a novel French-language semantic battery: la Batterie québécoise de la mémoire sémantique (BQMS), the assessment of the BQMS's psychometric properties, and the establishment of normative data for the BQMS. METHOD We first developed eight SM tasks. Following a pilot validation study, we determined the BQMS's reliability and validity, to ensure consistent, accurate detection of SM impairment. Among French-speaking Quebecers with cerebrovascular aphasia (n = 10), people with the semantic variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia (n = 4), and healthy controls (n = 14), we examined its convergent validity, concurrent validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency. Finally, we established normative data for the BQMS by calculating cut-off scores per task that indicate SM impairment (in 93 cognitively healthy French-speaking Quebecers), stratified by sociodemographic variables associated with performance. RESULTS The BQMS shows high concurrent, discriminant, and convergent validity, as well as good test-retest reliability and internal consistency. The cut-off score indicating SM impairment ranged from the 2nd to 25th percentiles (stratified by task, age, and sex). CONCLUSIONS The BQMS's psychometric properties indicate that it could be a valuable clinical tool for detecting SM impairment. Our normative data will help clinicians detect such impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Monetta
- École des Sciences de la réadaptation, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Angela Boland
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Joël Macoir
- École des Sciences de la réadaptation, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche CERVO, Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | | | - Vanessa Taler
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Roelofs A. Wernicke's functional neuroanatomy model of language turns 150: what became of its psychological reflex arcs? Brain Struct Funct 2024:10.1007/s00429-024-02785-5. [PMID: 38581582 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-024-02785-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Wernicke (Der aphasische Symptomencomplex: Eine psychologische Studie auf anatomischer Basis. Cohn und Weigert, Breslau. https://wellcomecollection.org/works/dwv5w9rw , 1874) proposed a model of the functional neuroanatomy of spoken word repetition, production, and comprehension. At the heart of this epoch-making model are psychological reflex arcs underpinned by fiber tracts connecting sensory to motor areas. Here, I evaluate the central assumption of psychological reflex arcs in light of what we have learned about language in the brain during the past 150 years. I first describe Wernicke's 1874 model and the evidence he presented for it. Next, I discuss his updates of the model published in 1886 and posthumously in 1906. Although the model had an enormous immediate impact, it lost influence after the First World War. Unresolved issues included the anatomical underpinnings of the psychological reflex arcs, the role of auditory images in word production, and the sufficiency of psychological reflex arcs, which was questioned by Wundt (Grundzüge der physiologischen Psychologie. Engelmann, Leipzig. http://vlp.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/references?id=lit46 , 1874; Grundzüge der physiologischen Psychologie (Vol. 1, 5th ed.). Engelmann, Leipzig. http://vlp.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/references?id=lit806 , 1902). After a long dormant period, Wernicke's model was revived by Geschwind (Science 170:940-944. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.170.3961.940 , 1970; Selected papers on language and the brain. Reidel, Dordrecht, 1974), who proposed a version of it that differed in several important respects from Wernicke's original. Finally, I describe how new evidence from modern research has led to a novel view on language in the brain, supplementing contemporary equivalents of psychological reflex arcs by other mechanisms such as attentional control and assuming different neuroanatomical underpinnings. In support of this novel view, I report new analyses of patient data and computer simulations using the WEAVER++/ARC model (Roelofs 2014, 2022) that incorporates attentional control and integrates the new evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ardi Roelofs
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognition, Radboud University, Thomas van Aquinostraat 4, 6525 GD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Krieger-Redwood K, Wang X, Souter N, Gonzalez Alam TRDJ, Smallwood J, Jackson RL, Jefferies E. Graded and sharp transitions in semantic function in left temporal lobe. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2024; 251:105402. [PMID: 38484446 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2024.105402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Recent work has focussed on how patterns of functional change within the temporal lobe relate to whole-brain dimensions of intrinsic connectivity variation (Margulies et al., 2016). We examined two such 'connectivity gradients' reflecting the separation of (i) unimodal versus heteromodal and (ii) visual versus auditory-motor cortex, examining visually presented verbal associative and feature judgments, plus picture-based context and emotion generation. Functional responses along the first dimension sometimes showed graded change between modality-tuned and heteromodal cortex (in the verbal matching task), and other times showed sharp functional transitions, with deactivation at the extremes and activation in the middle of this gradient (internal generation). The second gradient revealed more visual than auditory-motor activation, regardless of content (associative, feature, context, emotion) or task process (matching/generation). We also uncovered subtle differences across each gradient for content type, which predominantly manifested as differences in relative magnitude of activation or deactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katya Krieger-Redwood
- Department of Psychology, York Neuroimaging Centre, York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, United Kingdom
| | - Xiuyi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Nicholas Souter
- Department of Psychology, York Neuroimaging Centre, York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, United Kingdom; School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Rebecca L Jackson
- Department of Psychology, York Neuroimaging Centre, York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Jefferies
- Department of Psychology, York Neuroimaging Centre, York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, United Kingdom.
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Alonso MA, Díez E, Díez-Álamo AM, Fernandez A, Gómez-Ariza CJ. Transcranial direct current stimulation over the left posterior temporal lobe modulates semantic control: Evidence from episodic memory distortions. Brain Cogn 2024; 175:106130. [PMID: 38219414 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2024.106130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Evidence accumulates to show that semantic cognition requires, in addition to semantic representations, control processes that regulate the accessibility and use of semantic knowledge in a task- and time-appropriate fashion. Semantic control has been recently proposed to rely on a distributed network that includes the posterior temporal cortex. Along these lines, recent meta-analyses of neuroimaging data and studies with patients suffering from semantic aphasia have suggested that the left posterior middle temporal gyrus (pMTG) is critically involved whenever situational context must constrain semantic retrieval. In the present experiment, we used transcranial direct current stimulation over the left posterior temporal lobe in an attempt to interfere with semantic control while participants performed a DRM task, a procedure for inducing conceptually-based false recognition that is contingent on both activation and control processes. Paralleling findings with patients suffering from brain damage restricted to the temporoparietal cortex, anodal stimulation (relative to sham stimulation) resulted in increased false recognition but intact true recognition. These findings fit well with the idea that the left pMTG is a key component of a semantic control network, the alteration of which results in memory performance that is affected by the intrusion of contextually-inappropriate semantic information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Alonso
- Institute on Neuroscience (IUNE), University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Institute on Community Integration (INICO), University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Emiliano Díez
- Institute on Neuroscience (IUNE), University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Institute on Community Integration (INICO), University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Antonio M Díez-Álamo
- Institute on Community Integration (INICO), University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Angel Fernandez
- Institute on Neuroscience (IUNE), University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Institute on Community Integration (INICO), University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
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12
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Norberg J, McMains S, Persson J, Mitchell JP. Frontotemporal contributions to social and non-social semantic judgements. J Neuropsychol 2024; 18:66-80. [PMID: 37255262 DOI: 10.1111/jnp.12328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Semantic judgements involve the use of general knowledge about the world in specific situations. Such judgements are typically associated with activity in a number of brain regions that include the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). However, previous studies showed activity in brain regions associated with mentalizing, including the right temporoparietal junction (TPJ), in semantic judgements that involved social knowledge. The aim of the present study was to investigate if social and non-social semantic judgements are dissociated using a combination of fMRI and repetitive TMS. To study this, we asked participants to estimate the percentage of exemplars in a given category that shared a specified attribute. Categories could be either social (i.e., stereotypes) or non-social (i.e., object categories). As expected, fMRI results (n = 26) showed enhanced activity in the left IFG that was specific to non-social semantic judgements. However, statistical evidence did not support that repetitive TMS stimulation (n = 19) to this brain region specifically disrupted non-social semantic judgements. Also as expected, the right TPJ showed enhanced activity to social semantic judgements. However, statistical evidence did not support that repetitive TMS stimulation to this brain region specifically disrupted social semantic judgements. It is possible that the causal networks involved in social and non-social semantic judgements may be more complex than expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joakim Norberg
- Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | | | - Jonas Persson
- Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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13
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Xiao X, Dong Z, Yu M, Ding J, Zhang M, Cruz S, Han Z, Chen Y. White matter network underlying semantic processing: evidence from stroke patients. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae058. [PMID: 38444912 PMCID: PMC10914445 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The hub-and-spoke theory of semantic representation fractionates the neural underpinning of semantic knowledge into two essential components: the sensorimotor modality-specific regions and a crucially important semantic hub region. Our previous study in patients with semantic dementia has found that the hub region is located in the left fusiform gyrus. However, because this region is located within the brain damage in patients with semantic dementia, it is not clear whether the semantic deficit is caused by structural damage to the hub region itself or by its disconnection from other brain regions. Stroke patients do not have any damage to the left fusiform gyrus, but exhibit amodal and modality-specific deficits in semantic processing. Therefore, in this study, we validated the semantic hub region from a brain network perspective in 79 stroke patients and explored the white matter connections associated with it. First, we collected data of diffusion-weighted imaging and behavioural performance on general semantic tasks and modality-specific semantic tasks (assessing object knowledge on form, colour, motion, sound, manipulation and function). We then used correlation and regression analyses to examine the association between the nodal degree values of brain regions in the whole-brain structural network and general semantic performance in the stroke patients. The results revealed that the connectivity of the left fusiform gyrus significantly predicted general semantic performance, indicating that this region is the semantic hub. To identify the semantic-relevant connections of the semantic hub, we then correlated the white matter integrity values of each tract connected to the left fusiform gyrus separately with performance on general and modality-specific semantic processing. We found that the hub region accomplished general semantic processing through white matter connections with the left superior temporal pole, middle temporal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus and hippocampus. The connectivity between the hub region and the left hippocampus, superior temporal pole, middle temporal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus and parahippocampal gyrus was differentially involved in object form, colour, motion, sound, manipulation and function processing. After statistically removing the effects of potential confounding variables (i.e. whole-brain lesion volume, lesion volume of regions of interest and performance on non-semantic control tasks), the observed effects remained significant. Together, our findings support the role of the left fusiform gyrus as a semantic hub region in stroke patients and reveal its crucial connectivity in the network. This study provides new insights and evidence for the neuroanatomical organization of semantic memory in the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyue Xiao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Zhicai Dong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Mingyan Yu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Junhua Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK
| | - Maolin Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Sara Cruz
- The Psychology for Development Research Center, Lusiada University Porto, Porto 4100-348, Portugal
| | - Zaizhu Han
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yan Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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Adezati E, Liu X, Ding J, Thye M, Szaflarski JP, Mirman D. Phase synchronization during the processing of taxonomic and thematic relations. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2024; 249:105379. [PMID: 38241856 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2024.105379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Semantic relations include "taxonomic" relations based on shared features and "thematic" relations based on co-occurrence in events. The "dual-hub" account proposes that the anterior temporal lobe (ATL) is functionally specialized for taxonomic relations and the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) for thematic relations. This study examined this claim by analyzing the intra- and inter-region phase synchronization of intracranial EEG data from electrodes in the ATL, IPL, and two subregions of the semantic control network: left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and posterior middle temporal gyrus (pMTG). Ten participants with epilepsy completed a semantic relatedness judgment task during intracranial EEG recording and had electrodes in at least one hub and at least one semantic control region. Theta band phase synchronization was partially consistent with the dual-hub account: synchronization between the ATL and IFG/pMTG increased when processing taxonomic relations, and synchronization within the IPL and between IPL and pMTG increased when processing thematic relations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Adezati
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Xianqing Liu
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Junhua Ding
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Melissa Thye
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jerzy P Szaflarski
- Department of Neurology and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Epilepsy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Daniel Mirman
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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Kram L, Ohlerth AK, Ille S, Meyer B, Krieg SM. CompreTAP: Feasibility and reliability of a new language comprehension mapping task via preoperative navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation. Cortex 2024; 171:347-369. [PMID: 38086145 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Stimulation-based language mapping approaches that are used pre- and intraoperatively employ predominantly overt language tasks requiring sufficient language production abilities. Yet, these production-based setups are often not feasible in brain tumor patients with severe expressive aphasia. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and reliability of a newly developed language comprehension task with preoperative navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS). METHODS Fifteen healthy subjects and six brain tumor patients with severe expressive aphasia unable to perform classic overt naming tasks underwent preoperative nTMS language mapping based on an auditory single-word Comprehension TAsk for Perioperative mapping (CompreTAP). Comprehension was probed by button-press responses to auditory stimuli, hence not requiring overt language responses. Positive comprehension areas were identified when stimulation elicited an incorrect or delayed button press. Error categories, case-wise cortical error rate distribution and inter-rater reliability between two experienced specialists were examined. RESULTS Overall, the new setup showed to be feasible. Comprehension-disruptions induced by nTMS manifested in no responses, delayed or hesitant responses, searching behavior or selection of wrong target items across all patients and controls and could be performed even in patients with severe expressive aphasia. The analysis agreement between both specialists was substantial for classifying comprehension-positive and -negative sites. Extensive left-hemispheric individual cortical comprehension sites were identified for all patients. Apart from one case presenting with transient worsening of aphasic symptoms, pre-existing language deficits did not aggravate if results were used for subsequent surgical planning. CONCLUSION Employing this new comprehension-based nTMS setup allowed to identify language relevant cortical sites in all healthy subjects and severely aphasic patients who were thus far precluded from classic production-based mapping. This pilot study, moreover, provides first indications that the CompreTAP mapping results may support the preservation of residual language function if used for subsequent surgical planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Kram
- Department of Neurosurgery, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Germany; Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ann-Katrin Ohlerth
- Department of Neurosurgery, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Germany; Neurobiology of Language Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Sebastian Ille
- Department of Neurosurgery, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Germany; TUM Neuroimaging Center, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Germany; Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bernhard Meyer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Germany
| | - Sandro M Krieg
- Department of Neurosurgery, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Germany; TUM Neuroimaging Center, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Germany; Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Germany.
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Batra R, Kumar DA, Rao A, Kaloiya GS, Khan MA, Satapathy S, Chakrawarty A, Soni N, Kumar P, Chatterjee P. Clinical and neuropsychological characterization of SuperAgers residing in Delhi and National Capital Region of India-A cross-sectional study. Aging Med (Milton) 2024; 7:67-73. [PMID: 38571668 PMCID: PMC10985767 DOI: 10.1002/agm2.12285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction SuperAgers (SA) are older adults who exhibit cognitive capacities comparable to individuals who are three or more decades younger than them. The current study aimed to identify the characteristics of Indian SA by categorizing 55 older adults into SA and Typical Older Adults (TOA) and comparing their performance with a group of 50 younger participants (YP) (aged 25-50). Methods A total of 105 participants were recruited after obtaining informed written consent. The cognitive abilities of the participants were assessed using Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)-IVINDIA, Color Trails Test, Boston Naming Test (BNT), and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. Results SA outperformed TOA in all cognitive assessments (P < 0.001) and surpassed YP in BNT and WAIS-IV. SA's delayed recall scores were notably higher (12.29 ± 1.51) than TOA (6.32 ± 1.44). Conclusion SA excelled in all cognitive domains demonstrating resilience to age-related cognitive decline. This study highlights Indian SuperAgers' exceptional cognitive prowess.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritika Batra
- Department of Geriatric MedicineAll India Institute of Medical SciencesNew DelhiIndia
| | - Deepa Anil Kumar
- Department of Geriatric MedicineAll India Institute of Medical SciencesNew DelhiIndia
| | - Abhijith Rao
- Department of Geriatric MedicineAll India Institute of Medical SciencesNew DelhiIndia
| | | | - Maroof Ahmad Khan
- Department of BiostatisticsAll India Institute of Medical SciencesNew DelhiIndia
| | - Sujata Satapathy
- Department of PsychiatryAll India Institute of Medical SciencesNew DelhiIndia
| | - Avinash Chakrawarty
- Department of Geriatric MedicineAll India Institute of Medical SciencesNew DelhiIndia
| | - Nidhi Soni
- Department of Geriatric MedicineAll India Institute of Medical SciencesNew DelhiIndia
| | - Pramod Kumar
- Department of Geriatric MedicineAll India Institute of Medical SciencesNew DelhiIndia
| | - Prasun Chatterjee
- Department of Geriatric MedicineAll India Institute of Medical SciencesNew DelhiIndia
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Luotonen I, Karrasch M, Korpilahti P, Renvall K. Factor structure and clinical applicability of new semantic tasks in Alzheimer's disease and aphasia. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2024; 31:27-38. [PMID: 34658274 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2021.1986511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Semantic tasks are frequently used when examining language functions in patients with acquired disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and aphasia. Little is known about the possible covariation between different types of tasks or their factor structure in healthy adults. Additionally, few studies have examined semantic task performances in different patient groups. The aims of this data-driven study were to examine the factor structure in a wide range of semantic tasks in healthy older adults, the possible differences in factor variables between healthy controls, patients with AD and patients with stroke aphasia, as well as the clinical applicability of tasks in differentiating the two patient groups from controls. Participants included 59 healthy older adults, 13 patients with AD and 14 patients with aphasia. The results indicated a four-factor solution for the semantic task variables: (1) the Semantic association factor, (2) the Time factor, (3) the Verbal factor and (4) the Synonym factor. The Verbal factor was the only distinguishing factor between the two patient groups. Three factors reliably discriminated between the controls and the AD patients, and the Verbal factor reliably discriminated between the controls and the aphasia patients. In addition, a few single task variables showed outstanding discrimination for both patient groups. This study supports the notions of semantic tasks tapping into more than one cognitive subcomponent and a more general semantic impairment in AD than in aphasia. In clinical assessment, choosing appropriate semantic tasks is crucial in order to reliably detect the characteristics of the impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Luotonen
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Mira Karrasch
- Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Pirjo Korpilahti
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Kati Renvall
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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Ramanan S, Halai AD, Garcia-Penton L, Perry AG, Patel N, Peterson KA, Ingram RU, Storey I, Cappa SF, Catricala E, Patterson K, Rowe JB, Garrard P, Ralph MAL. The neural substrates of transdiagnostic cognitive-linguistic heterogeneity in primary progressive aphasia. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:219. [PMID: 38102724 PMCID: PMC10724982 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01350-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical variants of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) are diagnosed based on characteristic patterns of language deficits, supported by corresponding neural changes on brain imaging. However, there is (i) considerable phenotypic variability within and between each diagnostic category with partially overlapping profiles of language performance between variants and (ii) accompanying non-linguistic cognitive impairments that may be independent of aphasia magnitude and disease severity. The neurobiological basis of this cognitive-linguistic heterogeneity remains unclear. Understanding the relationship between these variables would improve PPA clinical/research characterisation and strengthen clinical trial and symptomatic treatment design. We address these knowledge gaps using a data-driven transdiagnostic approach to chart cognitive-linguistic differences and their associations with grey/white matter degeneration across multiple PPA variants. METHODS Forty-seven patients (13 semantic, 15 non-fluent, and 19 logopenic variant PPA) underwent assessment of general cognition, errors on language performance, and structural and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging to index whole-brain grey and white matter changes. Behavioural data were entered into varimax-rotated principal component analyses to derive orthogonal dimensions explaining the majority of cognitive variance. To uncover neural correlates of cognitive heterogeneity, derived components were used as covariates in neuroimaging analyses of grey matter (voxel-based morphometry) and white matter (network-based statistics of structural connectomes). RESULTS Four behavioural components emerged: general cognition, semantic memory, working memory, and motor speech/phonology. Performance patterns on the latter three principal components were in keeping with each variant's characteristic profile, but with a spectrum rather than categorical distribution across the cohort. General cognitive changes were most marked in logopenic variant PPA. Regardless of clinical diagnosis, general cognitive impairment was associated with inferior/posterior parietal grey/white matter involvement, semantic memory deficits with bilateral anterior temporal grey/white matter changes, working memory impairment with temporoparietal and frontostriatal grey/white matter involvement, and motor speech/phonology deficits with inferior/middle frontal grey matter alterations. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive-linguistic heterogeneity in PPA closely relates to individual-level variations on multiple behavioural dimensions and grey/white matter degeneration of regions within and beyond the language network. We further show that employment of transdiagnostic approaches may help to understand clinical symptom boundaries and reveal clinical and neural profiles that are shared across categorically defined variants of PPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Ramanan
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK.
| | - Ajay D Halai
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK
| | - Lorna Garcia-Penton
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK
| | - Alistair G Perry
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nikil Patel
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Katie A Peterson
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ruth U Ingram
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ian Storey
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Stefano F Cappa
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience Center (ICoN), University Institute of Advanced Studies IUSS, Pavia, Italy
- Dementia Research Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Eleonora Catricala
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience Center (ICoN), University Institute of Advanced Studies IUSS, Pavia, Italy
- Dementia Research Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Karalyn Patterson
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK
| | - James B Rowe
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter Garrard
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Matthew A Lambon Ralph
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK
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Tompary A, Xia A, Coslett BH, Thompson-Schill SL. Disruption of Anterior Temporal Lobe Reduces Distortions in Memory From Category Knowledge. J Cogn Neurosci 2023; 35:1899-1918. [PMID: 37713660 PMCID: PMC10860667 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_02053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Memory retrieval does not provide a perfect recapitulation of past events, but instead an imperfect reconstruction of event-specific details and general knowledge. However, it remains unclear whether this reconstruction relies on mixtures of signals from different memory systems, including one supporting general knowledge. Here, we investigate whether the anterior temporal lobe (ATL) distorts new memories because of prior category knowledge. In this preregistered experiment (n = 36), participants encoded and retrieved image-location associations. Most images' locations were clustered according to their category, but some were in random locations. With this protocol, we previously demonstrated that randomly located images were retrieved closer to their category cluster relative to their encoded locations, suggesting an influence of category knowledge. We combined this procedure with TMS delivered to the left ATL before retrieval. We separately examined event-specific details (error) and category knowledge (bias) to identify distinct signals attributable to different memory systems. We found that TMS to ATL attenuated bias in location memory, but this effect was limited to exploratory analyses of atypical category members of animal categories. The magnitude of error was not impacted, suggesting that a memory's fidelity can be decoupled from its distortion by category knowledge. This raises the intriguing possibility that retrieval is jointly supported by separable memory systems.
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Tessaro B, Hameau S, Salis C, Nickels L. Semantic impairment in aphasia: A problem of control? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY 2023; 25:903-914. [PMID: 36255123 DOI: 10.1080/17549507.2022.2125072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The relationship between cognitive processes and language ability in aphasia has recently gained increasing attention, with some authors suggesting that control impairments may underlie difficulties with semantic tasks in aphasia. This paper aims to present an overview of the current research on the involvement of cognitive processes in semantic processing tasks and discuss the proposed relationship between cognitive control and semantic processing in aphasia. METHOD The role of cognitive processes in semantic processing tasks commonly used in the aphasiology literature is discussed and two theoretical approaches to semantic processing that contribute to the understanding of the nature of semantic breakdown in aphasia are outlined. Finally, we examine the evidence put forward in the Controlled Semantic Cognition framework with regard to the interpretation of impaired performance on semantic processing tasks in people with aphasia. RESULT Non-linguistic cognitive abilities such as working memory, inhibition and control are required by semantic processing tasks, in addition to access to conceptual information, making it difficult to dissociate these abilities. Several issues exist regarding the evidence put forward for a control deficit as the underlying cause of poor performance on semantic processing tasks in aphasia. CONCLUSION It remains unclear whether impairment on semantic tasks in people with aphasia is related to problems with the representation and/or processing (activation/retrieval) of meaning or problems with cognitive control (or both). Further research is still needed to fully understand how non-linguistic cognitive processes interact with semantic processing, as well as clarify and consistency the definition of control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Tessaro
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Speech and Language Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- International Doctorate for Experimental Approaches to Language and Brain (IDEALAB)
- University of Potsdam, Potsdam, DE, Germany
- University of Groningen, Groningen, NL, The Netherlands, and
| | - Solène Hameau
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Macquarie University Centre for Reading, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Christos Salis
- Speech and Language Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Lyndsey Nickels
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Macquarie University Centre for Reading, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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Branzi FM, Lambon Ralph MA. Semantic-specific and domain-general mechanisms for integration and update of contextual information. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:5547-5566. [PMID: 37787648 PMCID: PMC10619409 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent research has highlighted the importance of domain-general processes and brain regions for language and semantic cognition. Yet, this has been mainly observed in executively demanding tasks, leaving open the question of the contribution of domain-general processes to natural language and semantic cognition. Using fMRI, we investigated whether neural processes reflecting context integration and context update-two key aspects of naturalistic language and semantic processing-are domain-specific versus domain-general. Thus, we compared neural responses during the integration of contextual information across semantic and non-semantic tasks. Whole-brain results revealed both shared (left posterior-dorsal inferior frontal gyrus, left posterior inferior temporal gyrus, and left dorsal angular gyrus/intraparietal sulcus) and distinct (left anterior-ventral inferior frontal gyrus, left anterior ventral angular gyrus, left posterior middle temporal gyrus for semantic control only) regions involved in context integration and update. Furthermore, data-driven functional connectivity analysis clustered domain-specific versus domain-general brain regions into distinct but interacting functional neural networks. These results provide a first characterisation of the neural processes required for context-dependent integration during language processing along the domain-specificity dimension, and at the same time, they bring new insights into the role of left posterior lateral temporal cortex and left angular gyrus for semantic cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca M. Branzi
- Department of Psychological SciencesInstitute of Population Health, University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
- MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences UnitThe University of CambridgeCambridgeUK
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Federico G, Osiurak F, Ciccarelli G, Ilardi CR, Cavaliere C, Tramontano L, Alfano V, Migliaccio M, Di Cecca A, Salvatore M, Brandimonte MA. On the functional brain networks involved in tool-related action understanding. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1163. [PMID: 37964121 PMCID: PMC10645930 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05518-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Tool-use skills represent a significant cognitive leap in human evolution, playing a crucial role in the emergence of complex technologies. Yet, the neural mechanisms underlying such capabilities are still debated. Here we explore with fMRI the functional brain networks involved in tool-related action understanding. Participants viewed images depicting action-consistent (e.g., nail-hammer) and action-inconsistent (e.g., scarf-hammer) object-tool pairs, under three conditions: semantic (recognizing the tools previously seen in the pairs), mechanical (assessing the usability of the pairs), and control (looking at the pairs without explicit tasks). During the observation of the pairs, task-based left-brain functional connectivity differed within conditions. Compared to the control, both the semantic and mechanical conditions exhibited co-activations in dorsal (precuneus) and ventro-dorsal (inferior frontal gyrus) regions. However, the semantic condition recruited medial and posterior temporal areas, whereas the mechanical condition engaged inferior parietal and posterior temporal regions. Also, when distinguishing action-consistent from action-inconsistent pairs, an extensive frontotemporal neural circuit was activated. These findings support recent accounts that view tool-related action understanding as the combined product of semantic and mechanical knowledge. Furthermore, they emphasize how the left inferior parietal and anterior temporal lobes might be considered as hubs for the cross-modal integration of physical and conceptual knowledge, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - François Osiurak
- Laboratoire d'Etude des Mécanismes Cognitifs (EA 3082), Université de Lyon, Bron, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
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Wu W, Hoffman P. Age differences in the neural processing of semantics, within and beyond the core semantic network. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 131:88-105. [PMID: 37603932 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Aging is associated with functional activation changes in domain-specific regions and large-scale brain networks. This preregistered Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study investigated these effects within the domain of semantic cognition. Participants completed 1 nonsemantic and 2 semantic tasks. We found no age differences in semantic activation in core semantic regions. However, the right inferior frontal gyrus showed difficulty-related increases in both age groups. This suggests that age-related upregulation of this area may be a compensatory response to increased processing demands. At a network level, older people showed more engagement in the default mode network and less in the executive multiple-demand network, aligning with older people's greater knowledge reserves and executive declines. In contrast, activation was age-invariant in semantic control regions. Finally, older adults showed reduced demand-related modulation of multiple-demand network activation in the nonsemantic task but not the semantic tasks. These findings provide a new perspective on the neural basis of semantic cognition in aging, suggesting that preserved function in specialized semantic networks may help to maintain semantic cognition in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wu
- School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Paul Hoffman
- School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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24
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Akhavan N, Blumenfeld HK, Shapiro L, Love T. Using lexical semantic cues to mitigate interference effects during real-time sentence processing in aphasia. JOURNAL OF NEUROLINGUISTICS 2023; 68:101159. [PMID: 37946740 PMCID: PMC10634522 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroling.2023.101159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
We examined the auditory sentence processing of neurologically unimpaired listeners and individuals with aphasia on canonical sentence structures in real-time using a visual-world eye-tracking paradigm. The canonical sentence constructions contained multiple noun phrases and an unaccusative verb, the latter of which formed a long-distance dependency link between the unaccusative verb and its single argument (which was base generated in the object position and then displaced to the subject position). To explore the likelihood of similarity-based interference during the real time linking of the verb and the sentence's subject noun, we manipulated the animacy feature of the noun phrases (matched or mismatched). The study's objectives were to examine whether (a) reducing the similarity-based interference by mismatching animacy features would modulate the encoding and retrieval dynamics of noun phrases in real-time; and (b) whether individuals with aphasia would demonstrate on time sensitivity to this lexical-semantic cue. Results revealed a significant effect of this manipulation in individuals both with and without aphasia. In other words, the mismatch in the representational features of the noun phrases increased the distinctiveness of the unaccusative verb's subject target at the time of syntactic retrieval (verb offset) for individuals in both groups. Moreover, individuals with aphasia were shown to be sensitive to the lexical-semantic cue, even though they appeared to process it slower than unimpaired listeners. This study extends to the cue-based retrieval model by providing new insight on the real-time mechanisms underpinning sentence comprehension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niloofar Akhavan
- School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders, San Diego State University/UC San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Henrike K. Blumenfeld
- School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders, San Diego State University/UC San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Lewis Shapiro
- School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders, San Diego State University/UC San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Tracy Love
- School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders, San Diego State University/UC San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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25
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Papanicolaou AC. Non-Invasive Mapping of the Neuronal Networks of Language. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1457. [PMID: 37891824 PMCID: PMC10605023 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This review consists of three main sections. In the first, the Introduction, the main theories of the neuronal mediation of linguistic operations, derived mostly from studies of the effects of focal lesions on linguistic performance, are summarized. These models furnish the conceptual framework on which the design of subsequent functional neuroimaging investigations is based. In the second section, the methods of functional neuroimaging, especially those of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and of Magnetoencephalography (MEG), are detailed along with the specific activation tasks employed in presurgical functional mapping. The reliability of these non-invasive methods and their validity, judged against the results of the invasive methods, namely, the "Wada" procedure and Cortical Stimulation Mapping (CSM), is assessed and their use in presurgical mapping is justified. In the third and final section, the applications of fMRI and MEG in basic research are surveyed in the following six sub-sections, each dealing with the assessment of the neuronal networks for (1) the acoustic and phonological, (2) for semantic, (3) for syntactic, (4) for prosodic operations, (5) for sign language and (6) for the operations of reading and the mechanisms of dyslexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Papanicolaou
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38013, USA
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26
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Polito C, Conca F, Santi GC, Esposito V, Caminiti SP, Boccalini C, Berti V, Morinelli C, Mazzeo S, Marcone A, Iannaccone S, Bessi V, Sorbi S, Perani D, Cappa SF, Catricalà E. Comparing two picture naming tasks in primary progressive aphasia: Insights from behavioural and neural results. Cortex 2023; 166:1-18. [PMID: 37295234 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Picture naming tests are widely used to evaluate language impairments in neurodegenerative diseases, especially in Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). The available tests differ for many factors affecting the performance, e.g. format of stimuli and their psycholinguistic properties. We aim to identify the most appropriate naming test to be used on PPA according to the clinical and research demands. We investigated the behavioural characteristics, i.e. proportion of correct responses and error type, and their neural correlates in two Italian naming tests, CaGi naming (CaGi) and naming subtest of the Screening for Aphasia in NeuroDegeneration battery (SAND), administered to 52 PPA patients who underwent an FDG-PET scan. We analysed the effectiveness of the tests in distinguishing PPA versus controls and among PPA variants, considering the psycholinguistic variables affecting performance. We explored the brain metabolic correlates of behavioural performance in the tests. SAND, differently from CaGi, has time limits for the response and its items are less frequent and acquired later. SAND and CaGi differed in terms of number of correct responses and error profile, suggesting a higher difficulty to name SAND items compared to CaGi. Semantic errors predominated in CaGi, while anomic and semantic errors were equally frequent in SAND. Both tests distinguished PPA from controls, but SAND outperformed CaGi in discriminating among PPA variants. FDG-PET imaging revealed a shared metabolic involvement of temporal areas associated with lexico-semantic processing, encompassing anterior fusiform, temporal pole, and extending to posterior fusiform in sv-PPA. Concluding, a picture naming test with response time limit and items which are less frequent and acquired later in life, as SAND, may be effective at highlighting subtle distinctions between PPA variants, improving the diagnosis. Conversely, a naming test without time limit for the response, as CaGi, may be useful for a better characterization of the nature of the naming impairment at the behavioural level, eliciting more naming errors than anomia, possibly helping in the development of rehabilitation protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gaia C Santi
- ICoN Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Institute for Advanced Studies, IUSS, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Silvia P Caminiti
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan, Italy; In Vivo Human Molecular and Structural Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy; Nuclear Medicine Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Cecilia Boccalini
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan, Italy; In Vivo Human Molecular and Structural Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Berti
- Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Italy
| | - Carmen Morinelli
- SOD Neurologia 1, Dipartimento Neuromuscolo-Scheletrico e Degli Organi di Senso, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Salvatore Mazzeo
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy; NEUROFARBA, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandra Marcone
- Department of Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Sandro Iannaccone
- Department of Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Bessi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy; SOD Neurologia 1, Dipartimento Neuromuscolo-Scheletrico e Degli Organi di Senso, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy; NEUROFARBA, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy; SOD Neurologia 1, Dipartimento Neuromuscolo-Scheletrico e Degli Organi di Senso, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy; NEUROFARBA, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Daniela Perani
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan, Italy; In Vivo Human Molecular and Structural Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy; Nuclear Medicine Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano F Cappa
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy; ICoN Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Institute for Advanced Studies, IUSS, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Catricalà
- ICoN Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Institute for Advanced Studies, IUSS, Pavia, Italy
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Souter NE, Reddy A, Walker J, Marino Dávolos J, Jefferies E. How do valence and meaning interact? The contribution of semantic control. J Neuropsychol 2023; 17:521-539. [PMID: 37010272 DOI: 10.1111/jnp.12312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
The hub-and-spoke model of semantic cognition proposes that conceptual representations in a heteromodal 'hub' interact with and emerge from modality-specific features or 'spokes', including valence (whether a concept is positive or negative), along with visual and auditory features. As a result, valence congruency might facilitate our ability to link words conceptually. Semantic relatedness may similarly affect explicit judgements about valence. Moreover, conflict between meaning and valence may recruit semantic control processes. Here we tested these predictions using two-alternative forced-choice tasks, in which participants matched a probe word to one of two possible target words, based on either global meaning or valence. Experiment 1 examined timed responses in healthy young adults, while Experiment 2 examined decision accuracy in semantic aphasia patients with impaired controlled semantic retrieval following left hemisphere stroke. Across both experiments, semantically related targets facilitated valence matching, while related distractors impaired performance. Valence congruency was also found to facilitate semantic decision-making. People with semantic aphasia showed impaired valence matching and had particular difficulty when semantically related distractors were presented, suggesting that the selective retrieval of valence information relies on semantic control processes. Taken together, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that automatic access to the global meaning of written words affects the processing of valence, and that the valence of words is also retrieved even when this feature is task-irrelevant, affecting the efficiency of global semantic judgements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ariyana Reddy
- Department of Psychology, University of York, York, UK
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK
| | - Jake Walker
- Department of Psychology, University of York, York, UK
- School of Psychology and Computer Science, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
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28
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Dirani J, Pylkkänen L. The time course of cross-modal representations of conceptual categories. Neuroimage 2023; 277:120254. [PMID: 37391047 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
To what extent does language production activate cross-modal conceptual representations? In picture naming, we view specific exemplars of concepts and then name them with a label, like "dog". In overt reading, the written word does not express a specific exemplar. Here we used a decoding approach with magnetoencephalography (MEG) to address whether picture naming and overt word reading involve shared representations of superordinate categories (e.g., animal). This addresses a fundamental question about the modality-generality of conceptual representations and their temporal evolution. Crucially, we do this using a language production task that does not require explicit categorization judgment and that controls for word form properties across semantic categories. We trained our models to classify the animal/tool distinction using MEG data of one modality at each time point and then tested the generalization of those models on the other modality. We obtained evidence for the automatic activation of cross-modal semantic category representations for both pictures and words later than their respective modality-specific representations. Cross-modal representations were activated at 150 ms and lasted until around 450 ms. The time course of lexical activation was also assessed revealing that semantic category is represented before lexical access for pictures but after lexical access for words. Notably, this earlier activation of semantic category in pictures occurred simultaneously with visual representations. We thus show evidence for the spontaneous activation of cross-modal semantic categories in picture naming and word reading. These results serve to anchor a more comprehensive spatio-temporal delineation of the semantic feature space during production planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Dirani
- Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA.
| | - Liina Pylkkänen
- Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA; Department of Linguistics, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA; NYUAD Research Institute, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, 129188, UAE
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29
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Sandberg CW, Khorassani H, Gray T, Dickey MW. Novel participant-level meta-analytic evidence for AbSANT efficacy. FRONTIERS IN REHABILITATION SCIENCES 2023; 4:1017389. [PMID: 37608806 PMCID: PMC10441547 DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2023.1017389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
The current study employed interrupted time series (ITS) models to analyze all available (published and unpublished) Abstract Semantic Associative Network Training (AbSANT) data. AbSANT is a semantically focused anomia treatment that targets not only concrete but abstract words, unique among existing anomia treatments. However, evidence to date for the positive effects of AbSANT comes only from small-sample, single-subject design studies, limiting the strength of this evidence and the inferences that can be drawn from it. The statistical power and greater representativeness afforded by this larger aggregated sample enabled us to look for group-level efficacy evidence for AbSANT, examine specific questions about AbSANT's direct training and generalization effects, and identify potential predictors and mechanisms of AbSANT treatment response. We found that across 33 participants from four different data sources, AbSANT appears to be a robust word retrieval therapy protocol, with overall direct training and generalization effects that were more meaningful than exposure effects. Similar to previous smaller-sample study conclusions, we found that in this large sample, training abstract words results not only in larger direct training effects than training concrete words, but also larger generalization effects, suggesting that while AbSANT successfully improves both abstract and concrete word retrieval, it may be better suited for training abstract words. In general, direct training effects were more persistent after treatment ended than generalization effects and effects for concrete words were more persistent than for abstract words. Additionally, the effects of generalization appear to be distinct from the effects of simple exposure to words, and generalization effects are consistent with AbSANT's hypothesized mechanism of action: spreading activation from directly trained concepts to related concepts. Also consistent with this mechanism, we found that milder aphasia and both conceptual and lexical semantic processing ability predicted both direct training and generalization gains, and that executive function was predictive of generalization effects. These factors are thus important to consider when evaluating the appropriateness of AbSANT for individual clients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaleece W. Sandberg
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Penn State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Hannah Khorassani
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Teresa Gray
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Michael Walsh Dickey
- Department of Communication Science and Disorders, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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30
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Navarrete-Orejudo L, Cerda-Company X, Olivé G, Martin N, Laine M, Rodríguez-Fornells A, Peñaloza C. Expressive recall and recognition as complementary measures to assess novel word learning ability in aphasia. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2023; 243:105303. [PMID: 37453400 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2023.105303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Novel word learning ability has been associated with language treatment outcomes in people with aphasia (PWA), and its assessment could inform prognosis and rehabilitation. We used a brief experimental task to examine novel word learning in PWA, determine the value of phonological cueing in assessing learning outcomes, and identify factors that modulate learning ability. Twelve PWA and nineteen healthy controls completed the task, and recall and recognition tests of learning ability. Most PWA showed comparable learning outcomes to those of the healthy controls. Learning assessed via expressive recall was more clearly evidenced with phonological cues. Better single word processing abilities and phonological short-term memory and higher integrity of the left inferior frontal gyrus were related to better learning performance. Brief learning tasks like this one are clinically feasible and hold promise as screening tools of verbal learning in PWA once validated and evaluated for their capacity to predict treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Navarrete-Orejudo
- Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xim Cerda-Company
- Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; Cognition and Brain Plasticity Group, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Feixa Llarga, s/n, 08097 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Guillem Olivé
- Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; Cognition and Brain Plasticity Group, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Feixa Llarga, s/n, 08097 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Nadine Martin
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Eleanor M. Saffran Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Temple University, 1701 N. 13th Street, Philadephia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Matti Laine
- Department of Psychology, Abo Akademi University, Tehtaankatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Antoni Rodríguez-Fornells
- Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; Cognition and Brain Plasticity Group, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Feixa Llarga, s/n, 08097 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claudia Peñaloza
- Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; Cognition and Brain Plasticity Group, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Feixa Llarga, s/n, 08097 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
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31
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Federico G. Eating Russula mushrooms is a matter of semantic knowledge. Comment on "The elicitation of affordance depends on conceptual attributes: evidence from a virtual reality study" by Lai et al. (2023). Exp Brain Res 2023; 241:1459-1461. [PMID: 37165079 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-023-06630-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
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32
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Luzzi S, Baldinelli S, Fiori C, Morelli M, Gainotti G. The Dynamic Interplay between Loss of Semantic Memory and Semantic Learning Capacity: Insight from Neologisms Learning in Semantic Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050788. [PMID: 37239259 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Semantic Variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia (svPPA) has often been considered as a loss of knowledge stored in semantic memory, but might also be due to a general disruption of mechanisms allowing the acquisition, storage, and retrieval of semantic memories. In order to assess any parallelism in svPPA patients between loss of semantic knowledge and inability to acquire new semantic information, we administered a battery of semantic learning tasks to healthy individuals and svPPA patients, where they were requested to learn new conceptual representations and new word forms, and to associate the former with the latter. A strong relation was found between loss of semantic knowledge and disruption of semantic learning: (a) patients with severe svPPA had the lowest scores in the semantic learning tasks; (b) significant correlations were found between scores obtained in semantic learning tasks and scores obtained in semantic memory disorders in svPPA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Luzzi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Sara Baldinelli
- Neurologic Clinic, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Chiara Fiori
- Neurologic Clinic, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Guido Gainotti
- Institute of Neurology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
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33
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Rahimi S, Jackson R, Farahibozorg SR, Hauk O. Time-Lagged Multidimensional Pattern Connectivity (TL-MDPC): An EEG/MEG pattern transformation based functional connectivity metric. Neuroimage 2023; 270:119958. [PMID: 36813063 PMCID: PMC10030313 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional and effective connectivity methods are essential to study the complex information flow in brain networks underlying human cognition. Only recently have connectivity methods begun to emerge that make use of the full multidimensional information contained in patterns of brain activation, rather than unidimensional summary measures of these patterns. To date, these methods have mostly been applied to fMRI data, and no method allows vertex-to-vertex transformations with the temporal specificity of EEG/MEG data. Here, we introduce time-lagged multidimensional pattern connectivity (TL-MDPC) as a novel bivariate functional connectivity metric for EEG/MEG research. TL-MDPC estimates the vertex-to-vertex transformations among multiple brain regions and across different latency ranges. It determines how well patterns in ROI X at time point tx can linearly predict patterns of ROI Y at time point ty. In the present study, we use simulations to demonstrate TL-MDPC's increased sensitivity to multidimensional effects compared to a unidimensional approach across realistic choices of number of trials and signal-to-noise ratios. We applied TL-MDPC, as well as its unidimensional counterpart, to an existing dataset varying the depth of semantic processing of visually presented words by contrasting a semantic decision and a lexical decision task. TL-MDPC detected significant effects beginning very early on, and showed stronger task modulations than the unidimensional approach, suggesting that it is capable of capturing more information. With TL-MDPC only, we observed rich connectivity between core semantic representation (left and right anterior temporal lobes) and semantic control (inferior frontal gyrus and posterior temporal cortex) areas with greater semantic demands. TL-MDPC is a promising approach to identify multidimensional connectivity patterns, typically missed by unidimensional approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Setareh Rahimi
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF United Kingdom.
| | - Rebecca Jackson
- Department of Psychology & York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, United Kingdom; MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF United Kingdom
| | - Seyedeh-Rezvan Farahibozorg
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Olaf Hauk
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF United Kingdom
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Ovando-Tellez M, Kenett YN, Benedek M, Bernard M, Belo J, Beranger B, Bieth T, Volle E. Brain Connectivity-Based Prediction of Combining Remote Semantic Associates for Creative Thinking. CREATIVITY RESEARCH JOURNAL 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/10400419.2023.2192563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Ovando-Tellez
- Sorbonne University, FrontLab at Paris Brain Institute (ICM), INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Yoed N. Kenett
- Faculty of Data and Decision Sciences, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology,Haifa Israel
| | | | - Matthieu Bernard
- Sorbonne University, FrontLab at Paris Brain Institute (ICM), INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Joan Belo
- Sorbonne University, FrontLab at Paris Brain Institute (ICM), INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Benoit Beranger
- Sorbonne University, CENIR at Paris Brain Institute (ICM), INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Theophile Bieth
- Sorbonne University, FrontLab at Paris Brain Institute (ICM), INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France
- Neurology department, Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Volle
- Sorbonne University, FrontLab at Paris Brain Institute (ICM), INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France
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35
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Li Y, Wen H, Li H, Peng Y, Tai J, Bai J, Mei L, Ji T, Li X, Liu Y, Ni X. Characterisation of brain microstructural alterations in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome using diffusion kurtosis imaging. J Sleep Res 2023; 32:e13710. [PMID: 36377256 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common chronic sleep-related breathing disorder in children. Previous studies showed widespread alterations in white matter (WM) in children with OSA mainly by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), while diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) extended DTI and exhibited improved sensitivity in detecting developmental and pathological changes in neural tissues. Therefore, we conducted whole-brain DTI and DKI analyses and compared the differences in kurtosis and diffusion parameters within the skeleton between 41 children with OSA and 32 healthy children. Between-group differences were evaluated by tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analysis (p < 0.05, TFCE corrected), and partial correlations between DKI metrics and sleep parameters were assessed considering age and gender as covariates. Compared with the controls, children with OSA showed significantly decreased kurtosis fractional anisotropy (KFA) mainly in white matter regions with a complex fibre arrangement including the posterior corona radiate (PCR), superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), while decreased FA in white matter regions with a coherent fibre arrangement including the posterior limb of internal capsule (PLIC), anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), and corpus callosum (CC). Notably, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated the KFA value in complex tissue regions significantly (p < 0.001) differentiated children with OSA from the controls. In addition, the KFA value in the left PCR, SLF, and IFOF showed significant partial correlations to the sleep parameters for children with OSA. Combining DKI derived kurtosis and diffusion parameters can provide complementary neuroimaging biomarkers for assessing white matter alterations, and reveal pathological changes and monitor disease progression in paediatric OSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua Li
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Hongwei Wen
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Chongqing, China
| | - Hongbin Li
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Peng
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Tai
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Bai
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Mei
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Ji
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodan Li
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Liu
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Ni
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, China
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36
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Nappo R, Galati G, Bureca I, Romani C. Semantic interference and facilitation in picture naming: The effects of type of impairment and compensatory strategies. Cogn Neuropsychol 2023; 39:325-355. [DOI: 10.1080/02643294.2023.2189004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2023]
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Semantic cognition in healthy ageing: Neural signatures of representation and control mechanisms in naming typical and atypical objects. Neuropsychologia 2023; 184:108545. [PMID: 36934809 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Effective use of conceptual knowledge engages semantic representation and control processes to access information in a goal-driven manner. Neuropsychological findings of patients presenting either degraded knowledge (e.g., semantic dementia) or disrupted control (e.g., semantic aphasia) converge with neuroimaging evidence from young adults, and delineate the neural segregation of representation and control mechanisms. However, there is still scarce research on the neurofunctional underpinnings of such mechanisms in healthy ageing. To address this, we conducted an fMRI study, wherein young and older adults performed a covert naming task of typical and atypical objects. Three main age-related differences were found. As shown by age group and typicality interactions, older adults exhibited overactivation during naming of atypical (e.g., avocado) relative to typical concepts in brain regions associated to semantic representation, including anterior and medial portions of left temporal lobe (respectively, ATL and MTG). This provides evidence for the reorganization of neural activity in these brain regions contingent to the enrichment of semantic repositories in older ages. The medial orbitofrontal gyrus was also overactivated, indicating that the processing of atypical concepts (relative to typical items) taxes additional control resources in the elderly. Increased activation in the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) was observed in naming typical items (relative to atypical ones), but only for young adults. This suggests that naming typical items (e.g., strawberry) taxes more on control processes in younger ages, presumably due to the semantic competition set by other items that share multiple features with the target (e.g., raspberry, blackberry, cherry). Together, these results reveal the dynamic nature of semantic control interplaying with conceptual representations as people grow older, by indicating that distinct neural bases uphold semantic performance from young to older ages. These findings may be explained by neural compensation mechanisms coming into play to support neurocognitive changes in healthy ageing.
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38
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González-García I, Visser M. A Semantic Cognition Contribution to Mood and Anxiety Disorder Pathophysiology. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11060821. [PMID: 36981478 PMCID: PMC10047953 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11060821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last two decades, the functional role of the bilateral anterior temporal lobes (bATLs) has been receiving more attention. They have been associated with semantics and social concept processing, and are regarded as a core region for depression. In the past, the role of the ATL has often been overlooked in semantic models based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) due to geometric distortions in the BOLD signal. However, previous work has unequivocally associated the bATLs with these higher-order cognitive functions following advances in neuroimaging techniques to overcome the geometric distortions. At the same time, the importance of the neural basis of conceptual knowledge in understanding mood disorders became apparent. Theoretical models of the neural basis of mood and anxiety disorders have been classically studied from the emotion perspective, without concentrating on conceptual processing. However, recent work suggests that the ATL, a brain region underlying conceptual knowledge, plays an essential role in mood and anxiety disorders. Patients with anxiety and depression often cope with self-blaming biases and guilt. The theory is that in order to experience guilt, the brain needs to access the related conceptual information via the ATL. This narrative review describes how aberrant interactions of the ATL with the fronto–limbic emotional system could underlie mood and anxiety disorders.
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39
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Nelson MJ, Moeller S, Seckin M, Rogalski EJ, Mesulam MM, Hurley RS. The eyes speak when the mouth cannot: Using eye movements to interpret omissions in primary progressive aphasia. Neuropsychologia 2023; 184:108530. [PMID: 36906222 PMCID: PMC10166577 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Though it may seem simple, object naming is a complex multistage process that can be impaired by lesions at various sites of the language network. Individuals with neurodegenerative disorders of language, known as primary progressive aphasias (PPA), have difficulty with naming objects, and instead frequently say "I don't know" or fail to give a vocal response at all, known as an omission. Whereas other types of naming errors (paraphasias) give clues as to which aspects of the language network have been compromised, the mechanisms underlying omissions remain largely unknown. In this study, we used a novel eye tracking approach to probe the cognitive mechanisms of omissions in the logopenic and semantic variants of PPA (PPA-L and PPA-S). For each participant, we identified pictures of common objects (e.g., animals, tools) that they could name aloud correctly, as well as pictures that elicited an omission. In a separate word-to-picture matching task, those pictures appeared as targets embedded among an array with 15 foils. Participants were given a verbal cue and tasked with pointing to the target, while eye movements were monitored. On trials with correctly-named targets, controls and both PPA groups ceased visual search soon after foveating the target. On omission trials, however, the PPA-S group failed to stop searching, and went on to view many foils "post-target". As further indication of impaired word knowledge, gaze of the PPA-S group was subject to excessive "taxonomic capture", such that they spent less time viewing the target and more time viewing related foils on omission trials. In contrast, viewing behavior of the PPA-L group was similar to controls on both correctly-named and omission trials. These results indicate that the mechanisms of omission in PPA differ by variant. In PPA-S, anterior temporal lobe degeneration causes taxonomic blurring, such that words from the same category can no longer be reliably distinguished. In PPA-L, word knowledge remains relatively intact, and omissions instead appear to be caused by downstream factors (e.g., lexical access, phonological encoding). These findings demonstrate that when words fail, eye movements can be particularly informative.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Nelson
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL USA, 60611; Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249, USA.
| | - S Moeller
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL USA, 60611; Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - M Seckin
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL USA, 60611; Department of Neurology, Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University School of Medicine, İstanbul, 34684, Turkey
| | - E J Rogalski
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL USA, 60611; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, USA
| | - M-M Mesulam
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL USA, 60611; Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, USA
| | - R S Hurley
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL USA, 60611; Department of Psychology, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA.
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Frisby SL, Halai AD, Cox CR, Lambon Ralph MA, Rogers TT. Decoding semantic representations in mind and brain. Trends Cogn Sci 2023; 27:258-281. [PMID: 36631371 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
A key goal for cognitive neuroscience is to understand the neurocognitive systems that support semantic memory. Recent multivariate analyses of neuroimaging data have contributed greatly to this effort, but the rapid development of these novel approaches has made it difficult to track the diversity of findings and to understand how and why they sometimes lead to contradictory conclusions. We address this challenge by reviewing cognitive theories of semantic representation and their neural instantiation. We then consider contemporary approaches to neural decoding and assess which types of representation each can possibly detect. The analysis suggests why the results are heterogeneous and identifies crucial links between cognitive theory, data collection, and analysis that can help to better connect neuroimaging to mechanistic theories of semantic cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia L Frisby
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF, UK.
| | - Ajay D Halai
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF, UK
| | - Christopher R Cox
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Matthew A Lambon Ralph
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF, UK
| | - Timothy T Rogers
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1202 West Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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41
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Cappa SF. The riddle of TPJ function in language processing: Comment on "Left and right temporal-parietal junctions (TPJs) as "match/mismatch" hedonic machines: A unifying account of TPJ function" by Doricchi et al. Phys Life Rev 2023; 44:108-109. [PMID: 36608616 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2022.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano F Cappa
- University Institute for Advanced Studies (IUSS) and IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
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42
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Dove GO. Rethinking the role of language in embodied cognition. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20210375. [PMID: 36571130 PMCID: PMC9791473 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been a lot of recent interest in the way that language might enhance embodied cognition. This interest is driven in large part by a growing body of evidence implicating the language system in various aspects of semantic memory-including, but not limited to, its apparent contribution to abstract concepts. In this essay, I develop and defend a novel account of the cognitive role played by language in our concepts. This account relies on the embodied nature of the language system itself, diverges in significant ways from traditional accounts, and is part of a flexible, multimodal and multilevel view of our conceptual system. This article is part of the theme issue 'Concepts in interaction: social engagement and inner experiences'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy O. Dove
- Department of Philosophy, University of Louisville, 313 Humanities Building, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
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43
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Souter NE, Wang X, Thompson H, Krieger-Redwood K, Halai AD, Lambon Ralph MA, Thiebaut de Schotten M, Jefferies E. Mapping lesion, structural disconnection, and functional disconnection to symptoms in semantic aphasia. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:3043-3061. [PMID: 35786743 PMCID: PMC9653334 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02526-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Patients with semantic aphasia have impaired control of semantic retrieval, often accompanied by executive dysfunction following left hemisphere stroke. Many but not all of these patients have damage to the left inferior frontal gyrus, important for semantic and cognitive control. Yet semantic and cognitive control networks are highly distributed, including posterior as well as anterior components. Accordingly, semantic aphasia might not only reflect local damage but also white matter structural and functional disconnection. Here, we characterise the lesions and predicted patterns of structural and functional disconnection in individuals with semantic aphasia and relate these effects to semantic and executive impairment. Impaired semantic cognition was associated with infarction in distributed left-hemisphere regions, including in the left anterior inferior frontal and posterior temporal cortex. Lesions were associated with executive dysfunction within a set of adjacent but distinct left frontoparietal clusters. Performance on executive tasks was also associated with interhemispheric structural disconnection across the corpus callosum. In contrast, poor semantic cognition was associated with small left-lateralized structurally disconnected clusters, including in the left posterior temporal cortex. Little insight was gained from functional disconnection symptom mapping. These results demonstrate that while left-lateralized semantic and executive control regions are often damaged together in stroke aphasia, these deficits are associated with distinct patterns of structural disconnection, consistent with the bilateral nature of executive control and the left-lateralized yet distributed semantic control network.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiuyi Wang
- Department of Psychology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hannah Thompson
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | | | - Ajay D Halai
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Michel Thiebaut de Schotten
- Brain Connectivity and Behaviour Laboratory, Sorbonne Universities, Paris, France
- Groupe d'Imagerie Neurofonctionnelle, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives-UMR 5293, CNRS, CEA, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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44
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Park K, Moon S. Informative and semantic language features of people with dementia displayed during reminiscence therapy. Psychogeriatrics 2022; 22:843-850. [PMID: 36075583 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Communication is essential for people with dementia (PWD) to independently perform activities of daily living. While cognitive training could improve communication abilities in PWD, there is limited evidence of the effect of reminiscence therapy (RT) on communication. Therefore, this study examines this effect, focusing on language features. METHOD This study used data from randomised controlled trials applying RT to women with dementia registered in a day-care center. RT using digital material or storytelling was conducted with PWD for 4 weeks. Outcome measures included general characteristics and communicative ability, such as the number of correct information units (CIUs, a measure of informativeness in discourse), the Holden Communication Scale (HCS) score, and verbal engagement. Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance and the paired t-test were performed to confirm the effect of RT on communicative ability. RESULTS There was a significant change over time in the ratio of CIUs (F = 4.35, P = 0.016). In the first 2 weeks of the intervention, there were significant differences in the ratio of CIUs (t = -3.00, P = 0.005), total HCS score (t = 2.28, P = 0.028), and conversation score (HCS subdomain) (t = 2.44, P = 0.019) between two measurement time points (T0, T1), while the number of syllables did not significantly change (t = -1.60, P = 0.117). CONCLUSIONS Informative/semantic linguistic ability was significantly increased in PWD, while the amount of discourse did not change after RT. This result may be helpful to improve effective communication with PWD and train healthcare staff working with PWD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyongok Park
- Department of Nursing, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
| | - SeolHwa Moon
- Research Institute of Nursing Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
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45
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Thompson HE, Noonan KA, Halai AD, Hoffman P, Stampacchia S, Hallam G, Rice GE, De Dios Perez B, Lambon Ralph MA, Jefferies E. Damage to temporoparietal cortex is sufficient for impaired semantic control. Cortex 2022; 156:71-85. [PMID: 36183573 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2022.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Semantic control allows us to focus semantic activation on currently relevant aspects of knowledge, even in the face of competition or when the required information is weakly encoded. Diverse cortical regions, including left prefrontal and posterior temporal cortex, are implicated in semantic control, however; the relative contribution of these regions is unclear. For the first time, we compared semantic aphasia (SA) patients with damage restricted to temporoparietal cortex (TPC; N = 8) to patients with infarcts encompassing prefrontal cortex (PF+; N = 22), to determine if prefrontal lesions are necessary for semantic control deficits. These SA groups were also compared with semantic dementia (SD; N = 10), characterised by degraded semantic representations. We asked whether TPC cases with semantic impairment show controlled retrieval deficits equivalent to PF+ cases or conceptual degradation similar to patients with SD. Independent of lesion location, the SA subgroups showed similarities, whereas SD patients showed a qualitatively distinct semantic impairment. Relative to SD, both TPC and PF+ SA subgroups: (1) showed few correlations in performance across tasks with differing control demands, but a strong relationship between tasks of similar difficulty; (2) exhibited attenuated effects of lexical frequency and concept familiarity, (3) showed evidence of poor semantic regulation in their verbal output - performance on picture naming was substantially improved when provided with a phonological cue, and (4) showed effects of control demands, such as retrieval difficulty, which were equivalent in severity across TPC and PF+ groups. These findings show that semantic impairment in SA is underpinned by damage to a distributed semantic control network, instantiated across anterior and posterior cortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E Thompson
- School of Psychology and Counselling, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
| | - Krist A Noonan
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Ajay D Halai
- MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Paul Hoffman
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sara Stampacchia
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging and Innovative Molecular Tracers (NIMTlab), Geneva University Neurocenter and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Psychology and York Neuroimaging Centre, University of York, UK
| | - Glyn Hallam
- School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, UK
| | - Grace E Rice
- MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Blanca De Dios Perez
- Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Elizabeth Jefferies
- Department of Psychology and York Neuroimaging Centre, University of York, UK
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46
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Barker MS, Cosentino SA, Fremont R, Devanand DP, Huey ED. Towards Defining the Neuroanatomical Basis of Late-Onset Psychiatric Symptoms. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2022; 35:751-762. [PMID: 35380884 PMCID: PMC11270909 DOI: 10.1177/08919887221090213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric symptoms, including changes in emotional processing, are a common feature of many neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy Bodies, frontotemporal dementia, and Huntington's disease. However, the neuroanatomical basis of emotional symptoms is not well defined; this stands in contrast to the relatively well-understood neuroanatomical correlates of cognitive and motor symptoms in neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, psychiatric diagnostic categories, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD), may have limited applicability in patients with late-onset psychiatric symptoms in the context of neurodegenerative disorders. In this clinical review, we suggest that early-onset and late-onset psychiatric symptoms have distinct etiologies, and that late-onset changes in emotional processing are likely underpinned by neurodegenerative disease. Furthermore, we suggest that an improved understanding of the neuroanatomical correlates of emotional changes in neurodegenerative disease may facilitate diagnosis and future treatment development. Finally, we propose a novel clinical approach, in a preliminary attempt to incorporate late-onset emotional symptoms alongside cognitive and motor symptoms into a clinical "algorithm," with a focus on the neuroanatomy implicated when particular combinations of emotional, cognitive, and motor features are present. We anticipate that this clinical approach will assist with the diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders, and our proposed schema represents a move towards integrating neurologic and psychiatric classification systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan S. Barker
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephanie A. Cosentino
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Fremont
- Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Davangere P. Devanand
- Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Edward D. Huey
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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47
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Hodgson VJ, Lambon Ralph MA, Jackson RL. The cross-domain functional organization of posterior lateral temporal cortex: insights from ALE meta-analyses of 7 cognitive domains spanning 12,000 participants. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:4990-5006. [PMID: 36269034 PMCID: PMC10110446 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The posterior lateral temporal cortex is implicated in many verbal, nonverbal, and social cognitive domains and processes. Yet without directly comparing these disparate domains, the region's organization remains unclear; do distinct processes engage discrete subregions, or could different domains engage shared neural correlates and processes? Here, using activation likelihood estimation meta-analyses, the bilateral posterior lateral temporal cortex subregions engaged in 7 domains were directly compared. These domains comprised semantics, semantic control, phonology, biological motion, face processing, theory of mind, and representation of tools. Although phonology and biological motion were predominantly associated with distinct regions, other domains implicated overlapping areas, perhaps due to shared underlying processes. Theory of mind recruited regions implicated in semantic representation, tools engaged semantic control areas, and faces engaged subregions for biological motion and theory of mind. This cross-domain approach provides insight into how posterior lateral temporal cortex is organized and why.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria J Hodgson
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew A Lambon Ralph
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca L Jackson
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, United Kingdom.,Department of Psychology & York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
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48
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Attout L, Grégoire C, Querella P, Majerus S. Neural evidence for a separation of semantic and phonological control processes. Neuropsychologia 2022; 176:108377. [PMID: 36183802 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2022.108377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
There remain major doubts about the nature and domain specificity of inhibitory control processes, both within and between cognitive domains. This study examined inhibitory processes within the language domain, by contrasting semantic versus phonological inhibitory control. In an fMRI experiment, elderly participants performed phonological and semantic inhibitory control tasks involving resistance to highly or weakly interfering stimuli. In the semantic domain, inhibitory control effects, contrasting high vs. low interference control levels, were observed at univariate and multivariate levels in all fronto-parieto-temporal region-of-interests. In the phonological domain, inhibitory control effects were observed only at multivariate levels, and were restricted to the pars triangularis of the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus and to the left middle temporal gyrus. Critically, no reliable multivariate cross-domain prediction of neural patterns associated with inhibitory control was observed. This study supports a functional dissociation of the neural substrates associated with inhibitory control for phonological vs. semantic domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Attout
- Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, University of Liège, Belgium; Fund for Scientific Research FNRS, 1000, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Coline Grégoire
- Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, University of Liège, Belgium
| | - Pauline Querella
- Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, University of Liège, Belgium
| | - Steve Majerus
- Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, University of Liège, Belgium; Fund for Scientific Research FNRS, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
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49
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Chiou R, Jefferies E, Duncan J, Humphreys GF, Lambon Ralph MA. A middle ground where executive control meets semantics: the neural substrates of semantic control are topographically sandwiched between the multiple-demand and default-mode systems. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:4512-4526. [PMID: 36130101 PMCID: PMC10110444 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Semantic control is the capability to operate on meaningful representations, selectively focusing on certain aspects of meaning while purposefully ignoring other aspects based on one's behavioral aim. This ability is especially vital for comprehending figurative/ambiguous language. It remains unclear why and how regions involved in semantic control seem reliably juxtaposed alongside other functionally specialized regions in the association cortex, prompting speculation about the relationship between topography and function. We investigated this issue by characterizing how semantic control regions topographically relate to the default-mode network (associated with memory and abstract cognition) and multiple-demand network (associated with executive control). Topographically, we established that semantic control areas were sandwiched by the default-mode and multi-demand networks, forming an orderly arrangement observed both at the individual and group level. Functionally, semantic control regions exhibited "hybrid" responses, fusing generic preferences for cognitively demanding operation (multiple-demand) and for meaningful representations (default-mode) into a domain-specific preference for difficult operation on meaningful representations. When projected onto the principal gradient of human connectome, the neural activity of semantic control showed a robustly dissociable trajectory from visuospatial control, implying different roles in the functional transition from sensation to cognition. We discuss why the hybrid functional profile of semantic control regions might result from their intermediate topographical positions on the cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocco Chiou
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK.,Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | | | - John Duncan
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK.,Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Gina F Humphreys
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK
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50
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Ramanan S, Irish M, Patterson K, Rowe JB, Gorno-Tempini ML, Lambon Ralph MA. Understanding the multidimensional cognitive deficits of logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia. Brain 2022; 145:2955-2966. [PMID: 35857482 PMCID: PMC9473356 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia is characterized by early deficits in language production and phonological short-term memory, attributed to left-lateralized temporoparietal, inferior parietal and posterior temporal neurodegeneration. Despite patients primarily complaining of language difficulties, emerging evidence points to performance deficits in non-linguistic domains. Temporoparietal cortex, and functional brain networks anchored to this region, are implicated as putative neural substrates of non-linguistic cognitive deficits in logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia, suggesting that degeneration of a shared set of brain regions may result in co-occurring linguistic and non-linguistic dysfunction early in the disease course. Here, we provide a Review aimed at broadening the understanding of logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia beyond the lens of an exclusive language disorder. By considering behavioural and neuroimaging research on non-linguistic dysfunction in logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia, we propose that a significant portion of multidimensional cognitive features can be explained by degeneration of temporal/inferior parietal cortices and connected regions. Drawing on insights from normative cognitive neuroscience, we propose that these regions underpin a combination of domain-general and domain-selective cognitive processes, whose disruption results in multifaceted cognitive deficits including aphasia. This account explains the common emergence of linguistic and non-linguistic cognitive difficulties in logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia, and predicts phenotypic diversification associated with progression of pathology in posterior neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Ramanan
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Muireann Irish
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre and School of Psychology, Sydney, Australia
| | - Karalyn Patterson
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - James B Rowe
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge University Centre for Frontotemporal Dementia, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Matthew A Lambon Ralph
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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