Lab 13: Language and Consciousness

What is the function of Wernicke’s area?

understanding speech

What is the function of Broca’s area?

speech production

Characterize Broca’s aphasia.

• - non fluent

• - preserved comprehension

• - impaired repetition

Which areas are important in Broca’s aphasia?

• - inferior frontal gyrus

• - precentral gyrus

• - basal ganglia

• - insula

• - white matter

Characterize Wernicke’s aphasia.

• - fluent

• - poor comprehension

• - impaired repetition

Which areas are important in Wernicke’s aphasia?

• - posterior superior temporal gyrus

• - supramarginal and angular gyri

• - neighboring parietal and temporal lobes

• - insula

Characterize Global aphasia.

• - non fluent

• - poor comprehension

• - impaired repetition

Which areas are important in Global aphasia?

extensive left middle cerebral artery territory

Characterize Conduction aphasia.

• - fluent

• - preserved comprehension

• - impaired repetition

Which areas are important in conduction aphasia?

arcuate fasciculus (supramarginal gyrus and insula)

Describe the Wernicke-Lichtheim model of language.

• - Broca;s area → speech production (motor)

• - Wernicke’s area → speech comprehension (sensory)

Describe the Hickok and Poeppel model of language.

• - dorsal stream → speech production (motor)

• - ventral stream → speech comprehension (sensory)

Which system is involved with the awake and alert part of consciousness?

the reticular activating system

Which parts of the brain are involved in the reticular activating system?

• - hypothalamus

• - basal forebrain

• - thalamus

• - rostral reticular formation

What are the theories associated with which parts of the brain are responsible for the awareness aspect of consciousness?

• - recurrent processing theory

• - global neuronal workspace theory

• - integrated information theory

• - higher-order theories

• - conscious memory system theory

What is the recurrent processing theory?

posterior cortical regions and the PFC

What is the global neuronal workplace theory?

parietal and prefrontal cortices

What is the integrated information theory?

occipital and parietal lobes

What are the higher-order theories?

PFC

What is the conscious memory system theory?

every cortical area

How can we determine what parts of the brain are essential for consciousness?

• - investigate conscious perception in people who have damage to particular brain regions

• - using transcranial magnetic stimulation to temporarily disrupt activity of particular brain regions

Characterize the coma state.

• - unresponsiveness (no signs of awareness

• - lacking wakefulness, can’t be awakened in response to stimuli

• - eyes closed and disrupted sleep-wake cycle

• - often the result of TBI, stroke, or infections

Characterize the vegetative state.

• - often follows a coma

• - awake, in a state of low-level arousal, but unresponsiveness

• - sleep-wake cycles can be present

How does schizophrenia relate to a disorder of consciousness?

anosognosia (an inability to tell that there is anything wrong)

What is hemispatial neglect?

a lack of regard for objects in the contralateral hemisphere and is more common with RIGHT brain injuries

What is Anton’s syndrome?

denial of one’s own blindness

What is autopagnosia?

unawareness of one’s own body parts