scholarly journals Essential language function of the right hemisphere in brain tumor patients

2004 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Thiel ◽  
Birgit Habedank ◽  
Lutz Winhuisen ◽  
Karl Herholz ◽  
Josef Kessler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Language Function ◽  
Tumor Patients ◽  
The Right

scholarly journals Language Neuroplasticity in Brain Tumor Patients Revealed by Magnetoencephalography

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1497-1507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitória Piai ◽  
Elke De Witte ◽  
Joanna Sierpowska ◽  
Xiaochen Zheng ◽  
Leighton B. Hinkley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Left Hemisphere ◽  
Amplitude Modulation ◽  
Language Impairment ◽  
Picture Naming ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Neuronal Response ◽  
Naming Task ◽  
Tumor Patients ◽  
The Right

Little is known about language impairment in brain tumor patients, especially in the presurgical phase. Impairment in this population may be missed because standardized tests fail to capture mild deficits. Additionally, neuroplasticity may also contribute to minimizing language impairments. We examined 14 presurgical patients with brain tumors in the language-dominant hemisphere using magnetoencephalography (MEG) while they performed a demanding picture–word interference task, that is, participants name pictures while ignoring distractor words. Brain tumor patients had behavioral picture-naming effects typically observed in healthy controls. The MEG responses also showed the expected pattern in its timing and amplitude modulation typical of controls, but with an altered spatial distribution of right hemisphere sources, in contrast to the classic left hemisphere source found in healthy individuals. This finding supports tumor-induced neural reorganization of language before surgery. Crucially, the use of electrophysiology allowed us to show the “same” neuronal response in terms of its timing and amplitude modulation in the right hemisphere, supporting the hypothesis that the processes performed by the right hemisphere following reorganization are similar in nature to those (previously) performed by the left hemisphere. We also identified one participant with a fast-growing tumor affecting large parts of critical language areas and underlying ventral and dorsal white matter tracts who showed a deviant pattern in behavior and in the MEG event-related responses. In conclusion, our results attest to the validity of using a demanding picture-naming task in presurgical patients and provide evidence for neuroplasticity, with the right hemisphere performing similar computations as the left hemisphere typically performs.

Symmetry of the arcuate fasciculus and its impact on language performance of patients with brain tumors in the language-dominant hemisphere

2017 ◽  
Vol 127 (6) ◽  
pp. 1407-1416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margit Jehna ◽  
Juliane Becker ◽  
Karla Zaar ◽  
Gord von Campe ◽  
Kariem Mahdy Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Fiber Tracking ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Arcuate Fasciculus ◽  
Language Performance ◽  
Language Deficits ◽  
Tumor Patients ◽  
Eloquent Areas ◽  
The Right

OBJECTIVECerebral damage in frontal, parietal, and temporal brain areas and, probably more importantly, their interconnections can lead to deficits in language. However, neural plasticity and repair allow the brain to partly compensate for neural injury, mediated by both functional and structural changes. In this study, the authors sought to systematically investigate the relationship between language performance in brain tumor patients and structural perisylvian pathways (i.e., the arcuate fasciculus [AF]) using probabilistic fiber tracking on diffusion tensor imaging. The authors used a previously proposed model in which the AF is divided into anterior, long, and posterior segments. The authors hypothesized that right-handed patients with gliomas in the language-dominant (left) hemisphere would benefit from a more symmetrical or right-lateralized language pathway in terms of better preservation of language abilities. Furthermore, they investigated to what extent specific tumor characteristics, including proximity to the AF, affect language outcome in such patients.METHODSTwenty-seven right-handed patients (12 males and 15 females; mean age 52 ± 16 years) with 11 low-grade and 16 high-grade gliomas of the left hemisphere underwent 3-T diffusion-weighted MRI (30 directions) and language assessment as part of presurgical planning. For a systematic quantitative evaluation of the AF, probabilistic fiber tracking with a 2 regions of interest approach was carried out. Volumes of the 3 segments of both hemispheric AFs were evaluated by quantifying normalized and thresholded pathways. Resulting values served to generate the laterality index of the AFs.RESULTSPatients without language deficits tended to have an AF that was symmetric or lateralized to the right, whereas patients with deficits in language significantly more often demonstrated a left-lateralized posterior segment of the AF. Patients with high-grade gliomas had more severe language deficits than those with low-grade gliomas. Backward logistic regression revealed the laterality index of the posterior AF segment and tumor grade as the only independent statistically significant predictors for language deficits in this cohort.CONCLUSIONSIn addition to the well-known fact that tumor entity influences behavioral outcome, the authors' findings suggest that the right homologs of structural language-associated pathways could be supportive for language function and facilitate compensation mechanisms after brain damage in functionally eloquent areas. This further indicates that knowledge about preoperative functional redistribution (identified by neurofunctional imaging) increases the chance for total or near-total resections of tumors in eloquent areas. In the future, longitudinal studies with larger groups are mandatory to overcome the methodological limitations of this cross-sectional study and to map neuroplastic changes associated with language performance and rehabilitation in brain tumor patients.

scholarly journals Neuronavigated Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as Novel Mapping Technique Provides Insights Into Language Function in Primary Progressive Aphasia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Mueller-Sarnowski ◽  
Nico Sollmann ◽  
Axel Schröder ◽  
Leen Houri ◽  
Sebastian Ille ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Primary Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Language Function ◽  
Language Mapping ◽  
Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Primary Progressive ◽  
The Right

Abstract Neuronavigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (nrTMS) is an innovative technique that provides insight into language function with high accuracy in time and space. So far, nrTMS has mainly been applied in presurgical language mapping of patients with cranial neoplasms. For the present study nrTMS was used for language mapping in primary progressive aphasia Seven patients (median age: 70 years, 4 males) with the non-fluent variant of primary progressive aphasia were included in this pilot study. Inhibitory nrTMS trains (5 Hz, 40 % resting motor threshold) caused virtual lesions at 46 standardized cortical stimulation targets per hemisphere. Patients’ errors in a naming task during stimulation were counted. The majority of errors induced occurred during frontal lobe stimulation (34.3 %). Timing errors and non-responses were most frequent. More errors were induced in the right hemisphere (58%) than in the left hemisphere (42%). Mapping was tolerated by all patients, however, discomfort or pain was reported for stimulation of frontal areas. The elevated right-hemispheric error rate in our study supports the hypothesis of a partial shift of language function to the right hemisphere in neurodegenerative aphasia during the course of disease and therefore points to the existence of significant neuronal plasticity in primary progressive aphasia. While this is an interesting finding for neurodegenerative disorders per se, its promotion might also harbor future therapeutic targets.

Evidence for Development of Distinction of Voice Onset Time in a Child with Left-Hemisphere Lesion

1995 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 1001-1002
Author(s):  
Kelly Paulson-Sebold ◽  
Ludie R. Hansen ◽  
J. Anthony Seikel ◽  
Patricia M. Hargrove ◽  
Gail D. Chermak
Keyword(s):  
Left Hemisphere ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Voice Onset Time ◽  
Onset Time ◽  
Language Function ◽  
Partial Removal ◽  
Hemisphere Lesion ◽  
The Right

Following surgery for partial removal of the posterior left hemisphere at 5 mo., voice onset time was assessed to 9; 11 yr. Left-hemisphere language function associated with voicing appeared subsumed by the right hemisphere.

Re-organization of language function within the right hemisphere

2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. e7-e8 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Abo ◽  
H. Takao ◽  
K. Hashimoto ◽  
M. Suzuki ◽  
N. Kaito
Keyword(s):  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Language Function ◽  
The Right

Care of the caregiver: Improving caregiver outcomes across the disease trajectory.

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 82-82
Author(s):  
Margaretta Page ◽  
Idonah M. Molina ◽  
Judy Patt ◽  
Susan Marina Chang
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumor ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Health Care Team ◽  
Tumor Patients ◽  
Tumor Patient ◽  
Levels Of Care ◽  
Additional Layer ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Right

82 Background: Caregivers are essential members of the health team, often assuming diverse primary care roles for the cancer patient. Caregiver needs vary across the trajectory of illness and range from informational needs to emotional support to assistance with accessing resources. The needs of caregivers of brain tumor patients are complex not only because of the life threatening nature of the illness but also because of the wide range of neurological and cognitive deficits patients experience, a known risk factor for added stress to the caregiver. To address these challenges and improve caregiver outcomes, the Neuro Oncology Division at UCSF developed a program to provide an additional layer of care that includes information and support to caregivers of brain tumor patients across the trajectory of illness, from diagnosis to death. Methods: The program consists of a medical director and a dedicated nurse practitioner, social worker and coordinator, all focused on the caregiver of the brain tumor patient. The goals of the program are to provide information needed to assist with disease and symptom management, effective communication with the health care team, maximization of use of available resources, and to provide emotional support. Three groups of caregivers were targeted: caregivers of all new patients with a focus on newly diagnosed glioblastoma and caregivers of patients deemed at “high risk,” either identified by the provider, or because of the phase in the illness trajectory. Results: Since June 2013, 13 caregivers reported no needs for the first 4 months from diagnosis. 13 caregivers received care, with over half reporting concerns regarding financial issues and disability as well as need for emotional support around adjusting to the diagnosis, role changes, and care demands. In addition, varying levels of care have been provided to 70 caregivers of patients identified at “high risk” for distress due to disease progression or when transitioning to hospice. Conclusions: This program provides care to caregivers of brain tumor patients at specific time points to improve caregiver outcomes. Challenges include tailoring the information at the right time as well as measuring outcomes with minimal extra burden to the caregiver.

scholarly journals Neuronavigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation as novel mapping technique provides insights into language function in primary progressive aphasia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Mueller-Sarnowski ◽  
Nico Sollmann ◽  
Axel Schröder ◽  
Leen Houri ◽  
Sebastian Ille ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Primary Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Language Function ◽  
Language Mapping ◽  
Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Primary Progressive ◽  
The Right

AbstractNavigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (nrTMS) is an innovative technique that provides insight into language function with high accuracy in time and space. So far, nrTMS has mainly been applied in presurgical language mapping of patients with intracranial neoplasms. For the present study, nrTMS was used for language mapping in primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Seven patients (median age: 70 years, 4 males) with the non-fluent variant of PPA (nfvPPA) were included in this pilot study. Trains of nrTMS (5 Hz, 100% resting motor threshold) caused virtual lesions at 46 standardized cortical stimulation targets per hemisphere. Patients’ errors in a naming task during stimulation were counted. The majority of errors induced occurred during frontal lobe stimulation (34.3%). Timing errors and non-responses were most frequent. More errors were induced in the right hemisphere (58%) than in the left hemisphere (42%). Mapping was tolerated by all patients, however, discomfort or pain was reported for stimulation of frontal areas. The elevated right-hemispheric error rate in our study could be due to a partial shift of language function to the right hemisphere in neurodegenerative aphasia during the course of disease and therefore points to the existence of neuronal plasticity in nfvPPA. While this is an interesting finding for neurodegenerative disorders per se, its promotion might also harbor future therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals Right Hemisphere Remapping of Naming Functions Depends on Lesion Size and Location in Poststroke Aphasia

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura M. Skipper-Kallal ◽  
Elizabeth H. Lacey ◽  
Shihui Xing ◽  
Peter E. Turkeltaub
Keyword(s):  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Left Hemisphere ◽  
Neural Plasticity ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Lesion Size ◽  
Language Function ◽  
The Right ◽  
Left Hemisphere Stroke ◽  
Aphasia Recovery

The study of language network plasticity following left hemisphere stroke is foundational to the understanding of aphasia recovery and neural plasticity in general. Damage in different language nodes may influence whether local plasticity is possible and whether right hemisphere recruitment is beneficial. However, the relationships of both lesion size and location to patterns of remapping are poorly understood. In the context of a picture naming fMRI task, we tested whether lesion size and location relate to activity in surviving left hemisphere language nodes, as well as homotopic activity in the right hemisphere during covert name retrieval and overt name production. We found that lesion size was positively associated with greater right hemisphere activity during both phases of naming, a pattern that has frequently been suggested but has not previously been clearly demonstrated. During overt naming, lesions in the inferior frontal gyrus led to deactivation of contralateral frontal areas, while lesions in motor cortex led to increased right motor cortex activity. Furthermore, increased right motor activity related to better naming performance only when left motor cortex was lesioned, suggesting compensatory takeover of speech or language function by the homotopic node. These findings demonstrate that reorganization of language function, and the degree to which reorganization facilitates aphasia recovery, is dependent on the size and site of the lesion.

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