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Cog Neuro: L4 - Neuroscience of Language (Aetiology of Aphasia ( (For…
Cog Neuro: L4 - Neuroscience of Language
Language structure
Rules are language specific
Semantics: the meaning of words, or larger linguistic units
Syntax: how words combine to make a sentence - all the rules in the language that allow us to put sentences together.
Morphology: how words are made – we have bits of words that stand in isolation and carries meaning.
e.g., /desk/ vs. /desk/+/s/
Bound morphemes (s) cant stand in isolation but it carries a meaning (pleural) can only attach to free morphemes that are nouns.
Phonology: how sounds combine to make words
e.g., /spring/ vs. /fpring/
Investigating the neural foundations of language
Unlike other cognitive processes, there is no animal model of language
Cannot use techniques like cell recordings and ablations
Lesion-deficit correlation studies
Traditional
Lesions identified at post-mortem
Brain stimulation studies
During operation for epilepsy
Functional neuroimaging studies
Use the “subtraction method” to identify differentially active cerebral regions
An experimental task and a baseline task and you subtract one from the other to see what is working.
Aetiology of Aphasia
Language deficit caused by damage to the brain
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA – stroke; i.e., sudden damage or death of cells in a localised area of the brain, due to inadequate blood flow therefore death of cells.
Embolism – material travels through artery till reaches smaller artery until blocks.
Thrombosis – blockage of blood vessels (atherosclerotic material)
Haemorrhage- brain bleed (not enough blood reaching/ blood leaking).
For language, in Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) – lateral surface we find language areas so this artery is vital.
Not all CVAs are persistent; Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA) recover fast - mini stroke so don’t leave serious long lasting effects.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Brain tumour
Infection and inflammation (e.g., herpes encephalitis)
Most common cause of aphasia is from a stroke.
How serious a stroke is depends on where the blockage or Haemorrhage is.
Who has Aphasia?
Anyone can get it but most people who have aphasia are middle-aged or older. Men and women are equally affected.
According to the National Aphasia Association, 80,000 individuals acquire aphasia each year from strokes
1/5 of all stroke victims will experience some aphasia after stroke
However, most people have never heard of it - just released a stroke awareness questionnaire in UK to test awareness for all ages.
Aphasia = difficulty retrieving words but intelligence is intact - can be mistaken as mentally ill or stupid.
