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Maldonado IL, Descoteaux M, Rheault F, Zemmoura I, Benn A, Margulies D, Boré A, Duffau H, Mandonnet E. Multimodal study of multilevel pulvino-temporal connections: a new piece in the puzzle of lexical retrieval networks. Brain 2024; 147:2245-2257. [PMID: 38243610 PMCID: PMC11146422 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae021] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Advanced methods of imaging and mapping the healthy and lesioned brain have allowed for the identification of the cortical nodes and white matter tracts supporting the dual neurofunctional organization of language networks in a dorsal phonological and a ventral semantic stream. Much less understood are the anatomical correlates of the interaction between the two streams; one hypothesis being that of a subcortically mediated interaction, through crossed cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical and cortico-thalamo-cortical loops. In this regard, the pulvinar is the thalamic subdivision that has most regularly appeared as implicated in the processing of lexical retrieval. However, descriptions of its connections with temporal (language) areas remain scarce. Here we assess this pulvino-temporal connectivity using a combination of state-of-the-art techniques: white matter stimulation in awake surgery and postoperative diffusion MRI (n = 4), virtual dissection from the Human Connectome Project 3 and 7 T datasets (n = 172) and operative microscope-assisted post-mortem fibre dissection (n = 12). We demonstrate the presence of four fundamental fibre contingents: (i) the anterior component (Arnold's bundle proper) initially described by Arnold in the 19th century and destined to the anterior temporal lobe; (ii) the optic radiations-like component, which leaves the pulvinar accompanying the optical radiations and reaches the posterior basal temporal cortices; (iii) the lateral component, which crosses the temporal stem orthogonally and reaches the middle temporal gyrus; and (iv) the auditory radiations-like component, which leaves the pulvinar accompanying the auditory radiations to the superomedial aspect of the temporal operculum, just posteriorly to Heschl's gyrus. Each of those components might correspond to a different level of information processing involved in the lexical retrieval process of picture naming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Lima Maldonado
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 37000 Tours, France
- Department of Neurosurgery, CHRU de Tours, 37000 Tours, France
| | - Maxime Descoteaux
- Sherbrooke Connectivity Imaging Laboratory, Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, J1K 2X9 Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
- Imeka Solutions, J1H 4A7 Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Ilyess Zemmoura
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 37000 Tours, France
- Department of Neurosurgery, CHRU de Tours, 37000 Tours, France
| | - Austin Benn
- CNRS, Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Center (UMR 8002), Université de Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, OX1 3QD Oxford, UK
| | - Daniel Margulies
- CNRS, Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Center (UMR 8002), Université de Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Arnaud Boré
- Sherbrooke Connectivity Imaging Laboratory, Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, J1K 2X9 Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Hugues Duffau
- Department of Neurosurgery, Gui de Chauliac Hospital, Montpellier University Medical Center, 34090 Montpellier, France
- Team ‘Plasticity of Central Nervous System, Stem Cells and Glial Tumors’, U1191 Laboratory, Institute of Functional Genomics, National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM), University of Montpellier, 34000, Montpellier, France
| | - Emmanuel Mandonnet
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lariboisière Hospital, AP-HP, 75010 Paris, France
- Frontlab, CNRS UMR 7225, INSERM U1127, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), 75013 Paris, France
- UFR Médecine, Université de Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
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Dionísio A, Espírito A, Pereira AC, Mouga S, d'Almeida OC, Oliveira G, Castelo-Branco M. Neurochemical differences in core regions of the autistic brain: a multivoxel 1H-MRS study in children. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2374. [PMID: 38287121 PMCID: PMC10824733 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52279-x] [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: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition which compromises various cognitive and behavioural domains. The understanding of the pathophysiology and molecular neurobiology of ASD is still an open critical research question. Here, we aimed to address ASD neurochemistry in the same time point at key regions that have been associated with its pathophysiology: the insula, hippocampus, putamen and thalamus. We conducted a multivoxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) study to non-invasively estimate the concentrations of total choline (GPC + PCh, tCho), total N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA + NAAG, tNAA) and Glx (Glu + Gln), presenting the results as ratios to total creatine while investigating replication for ratios to total choline as a secondary analysis. Twenty-two male children aged between 10 and 18 years diagnosed with ASD (none with intellectual disability, in spite of the expected lower IQ) and 22 age- and gender-matched typically developing (TD) controls were included. Aspartate ratios were significantly lower in the insula (tNAA/tCr: p = 0.010; tNAA/tCho: p = 0.012) and putamen (tNAA/tCr: p = 0.015) of ASD individuals in comparison with TD controls. The Glx ratios were significantly higher in the hippocampus of the ASD group (Glx/tCr: p = 0.027; Glx/tCho: p = 0.011). Differences in tNAA and Glx indices suggest that these metabolites might be neurochemical markers of region-specific atypical metabolism in ASD children, with a potential contribution for future advances in clinical monitoring and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Dionísio
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Espírito
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Andreia C Pereira
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Susana Mouga
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
- Centro de Desenvolvimento da Criança, Unidade de Neurodesenvolvimento e Autismo, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Otília C d'Almeida
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Guiomar Oliveira
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
- Centro de Desenvolvimento da Criança, Unidade de Neurodesenvolvimento e Autismo, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University Clinic of Pediatrics, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Castelo-Branco
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Karavallil Achuthan S, Stavrinos D, Argueta P, Vanderburgh C, Holm HB, Kana RK. Thalamic functional connectivity and sensorimotor processing in neurodevelopmental disorders. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1279909. [PMID: 38161799 PMCID: PMC10755010 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1279909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the earliest neurobiological findings in autism has been the differences in the thalamocortical pathway connectivity, suggesting the vital role thalamus plays in human experience. The present functional MRI study investigated resting-state functional connectivity of the thalamus in 49 (autistic, ADHD, and neurotypical) young adults. All participants underwent structural MRI and eyes-open resting state functional MRI scans. After preprocessing the imaging data using Conn's connectivity toolbox, a seed-based functional connectivity analysis was conducted using bilateral thalamus as primary seeds. Autistic participants showed stronger thalamic connectivity, relative to ADHD and neurotypical participants, between the right thalamus and right precentral gyrus, right pars opercularis-BA44, right postcentral gyrus, and the right superior parietal lobule (RSPL). Autistic participants also showed significantly increased connectivity between the left thalamus and the right precentral gyrus. Furthermore, regression analyses revealed a significant relationship between autistic traits and left thalamic-precentral connectivity (R2 = 0.1113), as well as between autistic traits and right postcentral gyrus and RSPL connectivity (R2 = 0.1204) in autistic participants compared to ADHD. These findings provide significant insights into the role of thalamus in coordinating neural information processing and its alterations in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smitha Karavallil Achuthan
- Department of Psychology and the Center for Innovative Research in Autism, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States
| | - Despina Stavrinos
- Department of Psychology and the Institute of Social Science Research, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States
| | - Paula Argueta
- Department of Psychology and the Center for Innovative Research in Autism, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States
| | - Caroline Vanderburgh
- Department of Psychology and the Center for Innovative Research in Autism, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States
| | - Haley B. Holm
- Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Rajesh K. Kana
- Department of Psychology and the Center for Innovative Research in Autism, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States
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Tsuchiyagaito A, Misaki M, Cochran G, Philip NS, Paulus MP, Guinjoan SM. Thalamo-cortical circuits associated with trait- and state-repetitive negative thinking in major depressive disorder. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 168:184-192. [PMID: 37913745 PMCID: PMC10872862 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.10.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Repetitive negative thinking (RNT), often referred to as rumination in the mood disorders literature, is a symptom dimension associated with poor prognosis and suicide in major depressive disorder (MDD). Given the transdiagnostic nature of RNT, this study aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that neurobiological substrates of RNT in MDD may share the brain mechanisms underlying obsessions, particularly those involving cortico-striatal-thalamic-cortical (CSTC) circuits. METHODS Thirty-nine individuals with MDD underwent RNT induction during fMRI. Trait-RNT was measured by the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS) and state-RNT was measured by a visual analogue scale. We employed a connectome-wide association analysis examining the association between RNT intensity with striatal and thalamic connectivity. RESULTS A greater RRS score was associated with hyperconnectivity of the right mediodorsal thalamus with prefrontal cortex, including lateral orbitofrontal cortex, along with Wernicke's area and posterior default mode network nodes (t = 4.66-6.70). A greater state-RNT score was associated with hyperconnectivity of the right laterodorsal thalamus with bilateral primary sensory and motor cortices, supplementary motor area, and Broca's area (t = 4.51-6.57). Unexpectedly, there were no significant findings related to the striatum. CONCLUSIONS The present results suggest RNT in MDD is subserved by abnormal connectivity between right thalamic nuclei and cortical regions involved in both visceral and higher order cognitive processing. Emerging deep-brain neuromodulation methods may be useful to establish causal relationships between dysfunction of right thalamic-cortical circuits and RNT in MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aki Tsuchiyagaito
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA; Oxley College of Health Sciences, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA; Research Center for Child Mental Development, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
| | - Masaya Misaki
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA; Oxley College of Health Sciences, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Gabe Cochran
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Noah S Philip
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, VA Providence Healthcare System, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Salvador M Guinjoan
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center at Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA; Laureate Psychiatric Hospital and Clinic, Tulsa, OK, USA
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Boeken OJ, Cieslik EC, Langner R, Markett S. Characterizing functional modules in the human thalamus: coactivation-based parcellation and systems-level functional decoding. Brain Struct Funct 2023; 228:1811-1834. [PMID: 36547707 PMCID: PMC10516793 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02603-w] [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: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The human thalamus relays sensory signals to the cortex and facilitates brain-wide communication. The thalamus is also more directly involved in sensorimotor and various cognitive functions but a full characterization of its functional repertoire, particularly in regard to its internal anatomical structure, is still outstanding. As a putative hub in the human connectome, the thalamus might reveal its functional profile only in conjunction with interconnected brain areas. We therefore developed a novel systems-level Bayesian reverse inference decoding that complements the traditional neuroinformatics approach towards a network account of thalamic function. The systems-level decoding considers the functional repertoire (i.e., the terms associated with a brain region) of all regions showing co-activations with a predefined seed region in a brain-wide fashion. Here, we used task-constrained meta-analytic connectivity-based parcellation (MACM-CBP) to identify thalamic subregions as seed regions and applied the systems-level decoding to these subregions in conjunction with functionally connected cortical regions. Our results confirm thalamic structure-function relationships known from animal and clinical studies and revealed further associations with language, memory, and locomotion that have not been detailed in the cognitive neuroscience literature before. The systems-level decoding further uncovered large systems engaged in autobiographical memory and nociception. We propose this novel decoding approach as a useful tool to detect previously unknown structure-function relationships at the brain network level, and to build viable starting points for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ole J Boeken
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Psychology, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Edna C Cieslik
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Robert Langner
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Markett
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Psychology, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489, Berlin, Germany
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Chiang HS, Lydon EA, Kraut MA, Hart J, Mudar RA. Differences in electroencephalography oscillations between normal aging and mild cognitive impairment during semantic memory retrieval. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 58:2278-2296. [PMID: 37122187 PMCID: PMC10531984 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16001] [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: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Semantic memory remains relatively stable with normal cognitive aging and declines in early stages of neurodegenerative disease. We measured electroencephalography (EEG) oscillatory correlates of semantic memory retrieval to examine the effects of normal and pathological aging. Twenty-nine cognitively healthy young adults (YA), 22 cognitively healthy aging adults (HA) and 20 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) completed a semantic memory retrieval task with concurrent EEG recording in which they judged whether two words (features of objects) led to retrieval of an object (retrieval) or not (non-retrieval). Event-related power changes contrasting the two conditions (retrieval vs. non-retrieval) within theta, alpha, low-beta and high-beta EEG frequency bands were examined for normal aging (YA vs. HA) and pathological aging effects (HA vs. MCI). With no behavioural differences between the two normal age groups, we found later theta and alpha event-related power differences between conditions only in YA and a high-beta event-related power difference only in HA. For pathological aging effects, with reduced accuracy in MCI, we found different EEG patterns of early event-related beta power differences between conditions in MCI compared with HA and an event-related low-beta power difference only in HA. Beta oscillations were correlated with behavioural performance only in HA. We conclude that the aging brain relies on faster (beta) oscillations during the semantic memory task. With pathological aging, retrieval accuracy declines and pattern of beta oscillation changes. The findings provide insights about age-related neural mechanisms underlying semantic memory and have implications for early detection of pathological aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsueh-Sheng Chiang
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas. 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. 5303 Harry Hines Blvd 8th floor, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Lydon
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 901 S 6th St, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Michael A. Kraut
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University. 1800 Orleans St. Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - John Hart
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas. 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. 5303 Harry Hines Blvd 8th floor, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Raksha A. Mudar
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 901 S 6th St, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
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Matyi MA, Spielberg JM. Negative emotion differentiation and white matter microstructure. J Affect Disord 2023; 332:238-246. [PMID: 37059190 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.010] [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: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deficits in the differentiation of negative emotions - the ability to specifically identify one's negative emotions - are associated with poorer mental health outcomes. However, the processes that lead to individual differences in negative emotion differentiation are not well understood, hampering our understanding of why this process is related to poor mental health outcomes. Given that disruptions in some affective processes are associated with white matter microstructure, identifying the circuitry associated with different affective processes can inform our understanding of how disturbances in these networks may lead to psychopathology. Thus, examination of how white matter microstructure relates to individual differences in negative emotion differentiation (NED) may provide insights into (i) its component processes and (ii) its relationship to brain structure. METHOD The relationship between white matter microstructure and NED was examined. RESULTS NED was related to white matter microstructure in right anterior thalamic radiation and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and left peri-genual cingulum. LIMITATIONS Although participants self-reported psychiatric diagnoses and previous psychological treatment, psychopathology was not directly targeted, and thus, the extent to which microstructure related to NED could be examined in relation to maladaptive outcomes is limited. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that NED is related to white matter microstructure and suggest that pathways subserving processes that facilitate memory, semantics, and affective experience are important for NED. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms by which individual differences in NED arise, suggesting intervention targets that may disrupt the relationship between poor differentiation and psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie A Matyi
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
| | - Jeffrey M Spielberg
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
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Fritsch M, Rangus I, Nolte CH. Thalamic Aphasia: a Review. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2022; 22:855-865. [PMID: 36383308 PMCID: PMC9750901 DOI: 10.1007/s11910-022-01242-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Thalamic aphasia is a rare language disorder resulting from lesions to the thalamus. While most patients exhibit mild symptoms with a predominance of lexical-semantic difficulties, variations in phenotype have been described. Overall, the exact mechanisms of thalamic aphasia await empirical research. The article reviews recent findings regarding phenotypes and possible underlying mechanisms of thalamic aphasia. RECENT FINDINGS Variations in phenotype of thalamic aphasia may be related to different lesion locations. Overall, the thalamus' role in language is thought to be due to its involvement in cortico-thalamic language networks with lesioning of certain nuclei resulting in the diachisis of otherwise interconnected areas. Its possible monitoring function in such a network might be due to its different cellular firing modes. However, no specific evidence has been collected to date. While recent findings show a more distinct understanding of thalamic aphasia phenotypes and possible underlying mechanisms, further research is needed. Additionally, as standard language testing might oftentimes not pick up on its subtle symptoms, thalamic aphasia might be underdiagnosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Fritsch
- grid.6363.00000 0001 2218 4662Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ida Rangus
- grid.6363.00000 0001 2218 4662Department of Neurology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany ,grid.6363.00000 0001 2218 4662Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian H. Nolte
- grid.6363.00000 0001 2218 4662Department of Neurology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany ,grid.6363.00000 0001 2218 4662Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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