This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vitali, P. Articles by Cappa, S. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vitali, P. Articles by Cappa, S. F. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Training-Induced Brain Remapping in Chronic Aphasia: A Pilot Study

Vita-Salute University and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy, Université de Montréal and Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Québec, Canada, paolo.vitali{at}umontreal.ca

Jubin Abutalebi, MD

Vita-Salute University and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy, Interdisciplinary Center for Cognitive Studies, University of Potsdam, Germany

Marco Tettamanti, PhD

Vita-Salute University and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy

Massimo Danna, MSc

Vita-Salute University and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy

Ana-Inés Ansaldo, PhD

Université de Montréal and Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Québec, Canada

Daniela Perani, MD

Vita-Salute University and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology-CNR, Milano, Italy

Yves Joanette, PhD

Université de Montréal and Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Québec, Canada

Stefano F. Cappa, MD

Vita-Salute University and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology-CNR, Milano, Italy

Background. The neural correlates of training-induced improvements of cognitive functions after brain damage remain still scarcely understood. In the specific case of aphasia, although several investigations have addressed the issue of the neural substrates of functional recovery, only a few studies have attempted to assess the impact of language training on the damaged brain.

Aims. The main goal of this study was to examine the neurobiological correlates of improved picture-naming performance in 2 aphasic patients who received intensive and specific training for a chronic and severe phonological anomia.

Methods. In both participants, picture-naming performance was assessed before and after phonological cueing training. Training-induced changes in patients’ performance were correlated to brain activity patterns as revealed by pre- and post-training event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning.

Results. Training-induced improvement was observed concurrently with changes in the brain activation patterns. Better performance was observed in the patient with the smaller lesion, partially sparing Broca’s area, who showed a left perilesional reactivation. Conversely, the patient with complete destruction of Broca’s area showed a posttraining activation in the right mirror frontal region.

Conclusions. The results show that, even in the chronic stage, phonological strategies may improve impaired naming and induce cerebral reorganization.

Key Words: Aphasia recovery • Speech rehabilitation • fMRI • Phonological training • Brain reorganization • Anomia

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?