UNIT 7 Neuropsychology of Language

This set of flashcards covers key terms, definitions, and concepts related to the neuropsychology of language, including localization, language disorders, assessments, and case studies.

Localization of language

The theory that specific areas of the brain are responsible for different aspects of language.

Aphasia

An acquired language disorder affecting speech, comprehension, reading, or writing, not due to sensory or motor deficits.

Phonemes

The fundamental sounds of language that distinguish meaning.

Morphemes

The smallest meaningful units of words.

Lexicon

The mental store of all words in a given language.

Syntax

The grammatical rules that govern sentence structure.

Semantics

The meaning of words and sentences.

Prosody

Vocal intonation and tone of voice conveying emotional and pragmatic meaning.

Broca's Aphasia

Nonfluent, effortful speech with relatively preserved comprehension and poor repetition.

Wernicke's Aphasia (Sensory Aphasia)

Fluent but meaningless speech, poor comprehension, poor repetition, and paraphasias.

Dorsal pathways

Neural connections that transform sound information into motor representation for articulation.

Ventral pathways

Neural connections that transform sound information into meaning (phonological to semantics).

Anomic Aphasia

Preserved comprehension and repetition with severe word-finding difficulty.

Transcortical Motor Aphasia (TMA)

Nonfluent speech, poor spontaneous production, preserved repetition.

Conduction Aphasia

Fluent speech and good comprehension with impaired repetition due to arcuate fasciculus damage.

Neural basis of language

The complex interplay of various brain regions involved in language processing.

Neuropsychological assessment

A comprehensive evaluation to understand an individual's language capabilities and disorders.

Discourse

The ability to link sentences together to form a coherent narrative.

Internal use

Label used to indicate restricted access or intended audience for specific content.

Global Aphasia

Severe impairment of speech production and comprehension.

Hydrocephalus

A medical condition characterized by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain.

Agraphia

Inability to write.

Alexia

Inability to read.

Language disorders

Disruptions in an individual’s ability to use or understand spoken or written language.

Cerebral arteries

Blood vessels supplying the brain, crucial in the context of strokes affecting language.

Inferior frontal gyrus

A brain region involved in language processing, specifically associated with Broca’s area.

Superior temporal gyrus

A brain region associated with auditory processing and Wernicke's area.

Neuropsychological test batteries

Standardized assessments used to evaluate various cognitive functions, including language abilities.

Token Test

Assesses auditory comprehension of increasingly complex verbal commands. Age: 6 years to old age

Case study

An in-depth exploration of a singular patient to understand specific language disorders.

Vascular alteration

Changes in blood vessels that can impact brain function, often related to strokes.

Higher cortical functions

Advanced cognitive abilities, such as reasoning and memory, often assessed alongside language impairments.

Mirror neurons

Neurons that fire both when an individual acts and when they observe the same action performed by another, potentially important for language acquisition.

Language

A rule-governed system of sounds used for communication, uniquely human.

Left Hemisphere Language Dominance

In right-handed individuals (~95%) and most left-handed individuals (~70%), language is lateralized to the left hemisphere.

Broca’s Area (BA 44–45)

Region in the inferior frontal gyrus involved in speech production and articulation.

Wernicke’s Area (BA 22)

Region in the superior temporal gyrus involved in language comprehension.

Angular Gyrus (BA 39)

Involved in reading, writing, and semantic processing.

Supramarginal Gyrus (BA 40)

Involved in phonological processing and repetition.

Insula

Involved in articulation and speech planning.

Heschl’s Gyrus

Primary auditory cortex involved in sound perception.

Wernicke–Geschwind Model

Classic model describing language processing from auditory input to speech production via interconnected cortical regions.

Arcuate Fasciculus

Dorsal pathway connecting Wernicke’s area to Broca’s area; essential for repetition and complex syntax.

Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus

Guides auditory input to motor speech planning and repetition.

Inferior Fronto-Occipital Fasciculus (IFOF)

Ventral pathway involved in semantic processing and reading comprehension.

Uncinate Fasciculus

Connects anterior temporal lobe with frontal regions; involved in semantic access and lexical processing.

Aslant Fasciculus

Connects frontal speech areas; involved in speech initiation and fluency.

Fluent Aphasia

Fluent speech with impaired comprehension.

Nonfluent Aphasia

Effortful, reduced speech output with relatively preserved comprehension.

Pure Aphasia

Selective impairment in reading, writing, or word recognition.

Transcortical Sensory Aphasia (TSA)

Fluent speech, poor comprehension, preserved repetition.

Word Deafness

Inability to understand or repeat spoken words despite intact hearing.

Attentional Dyslexia

Difficulty naming letters when more than one letter is present.

Neglect Dyslexia

Failure to read one side of words (left or right).

Letter-by-Letter Reading

Reading words by spelling them out first.

Deep Dyslexia

Semantic errors, inability to read nonwords, better reading of concrete words.

Phonological Dyslexia

Inability to read aloud nonsense words.

Surface Dyslexia

Inability to read irregular words without phonological decoding.

Basal Ganglia (Language)

Involved in speech articulation and language regulation.

Thalamus (Language)

Activates cortical language areas; involved in lexical-semantic processing.

Caudate Nucleus

Plays a role in language control and fluency.

Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE-3)

Comprehensive aphasia battery assessing all language domains. Age: Adults Duration: 1–4 hours

NEPSY-II

Assesses language and other cognitive domains in children (phonology, naming, repetition). Age: 3–16 years

CELF-5 (Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals)

Assesses language structure and pragmatic skills. Age: 5–21 years

Boston Naming Test (BNT)

Assesses confrontation naming. Age: Adolescents to adults

Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-IV)

Assesses receptive vocabulary. Age: 2.5 years to adulthood

WAIS-IV (Vocabulary subtest)

Assesses verbal knowledge in adults. Age: 16–90 years

WISC-V (Vocabulary subtest)

Assesses verbal knowledge in children. Age: 6–16 years

National Adult Reading Test (NART-2)

Assesses premorbid intelligence via reading. Age: Adults

PROLEC-R / PROLEC-SE-R

Assessment of reading processes. Age: Children and adolescents

PROESC

Assesses spelling and writing abilities. Age: School-age children

Johns Hopkins University Dysgraphia Battery

Assesses writing impairments. Age: Adults