An on-line analysis of syntactic processing in Broca's and Wernicke's aphasia

Brain Lang. 1993 Oct;45(3):448-64. doi: 10.1006/brln.1993.1054.

Abstract

This paper is about syntactic processing in aphasia. Specifically, we present data concerning the ability of Broca's and Wernicke's aphasic patients to link moved constituents and empty elements in real time. We show that Wernicke's aphasic patients carry out this syntactic analysis in a normal fashion, but that Broca's aphasic patients do not. We discuss these data in the context of some current grammar-based theories of comprehension limitations in aphasia and in terms of the different functional commitments of the brain regions implicated in Broca's and Wernicke's aphasia, respectively.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aphasia, Broca / complications
  • Aphasia, Broca / diagnosis
  • Aphasia, Broca / physiopathology*
  • Aphasia, Wernicke / complications
  • Aphasia, Wernicke / diagnosis
  • Aphasia, Wernicke / physiopathology*
  • Functional Laterality
  • Humans
  • Language Disorders / diagnosis
  • Language Disorders / etiology
  • Language Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Speech Perception