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Ultra-rapid access to words in chronic aphasia: the effects of intensive language action therapy (ILAT).

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

MacGregor, Lucy J 
Difrancesco, Stephanie 
Pulvermüller, Friedemann 
Shtyrov, Yury 
Mohr, Bettina 

Abstract

Effects of intensive language action therapy (ILAT) on automatic language processing were assessed using Magnetoencephalography (MEG). Auditory magnetic mismatch negativity (MMNm) responses to words and pseudowords were recorded in twelve patients with chronic aphasia before and immediately after two weeks of ILAT. Following therapy, Patients showed significant clinical improvements of auditory comprehension as measured by the Token Test and in word retrieval and naming as measured by the Boston Naming Test. Neuromagnetic responses dissociated between meaningful words and meaningless word-like stimuli ultra-rapidly, approximately 50 ms after acoustic information first allowed for stimulus identification. Over treatment, there was a significant increase in the left-lateralisation of this early word-elicited activation, observed in perilesional fronto-temporal regions. No comparable change was seen for pseudowords. The results may reflect successful, therapy-induced, language restitution in the left hemisphere.

Description

Keywords

Acoustic Stimulation, Adult, Aged, Aphasia, Brain, Chronic Disease, Female, Humans, Language Tests, Language Therapy, Magnetoencephalography, Male, Middle Aged, Speech Perception

Journal Title

Brain Topogr

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0896-0267
1573-6792

Volume Title

28

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MR/K005464/1)