Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Connectivity Between Semantic and Phonological Regions of Interest May Inform Language Targets in Aphasia.
Amy E Ramage, Semra Aytur, Kirrie J Ballard
PMID 32755498WHAT IT FOUND
Resting brain connectivity patterns predict language severity in aphasia.
Weaker right-hemisphere frontotemporal links associated with better naming, while stronger left angular gyrus connections predicted better comprehension. These networks may help identify targets for therapy.
Key findings
01Weaker functional connectivity between the right posterior middle temporal gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus was associated with higher Aphasia Quotient scores and better Naming and Word Finding performance.
02Stronger functional connectivity between the left and right angular gyri, and between the left angular gyrus and left superior inferior temporal gyrus, predicted higher Auditory Comprehension scores.
03Lesion volume and apraxia of speech severity were significant predictors for Spontaneous Speech and Repetition, with no functional connectivity measures improving model fit for these specific subtests.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (n=48 total), providing only moderate power to detect effects. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot determine if these connectivity patterns cause the language deficits or result from them. The WAB-R is a broad clinical battery and does not isolate specific semantic or phonological processes, making it difficult to link specific brain connections to precise language mechanisms. Resting-state fMRI in stroke patients can be affected by variations in blood flow timing (hemodynamic lag) due to the injury, which was not fully accounted for.
Declared interests
The work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Research Council. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that changing brain connectivity through therapy will directly improve language outcomes. This study shows correlations at a single time point, not causation, and the authors explicitly state that further study is required to determine if these connections are valid treatment targets.