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Biomedical subjects

C W Wallesch

Publications and source records attributed to C W Wallesch.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Dissociations of language functions in aphasics with speech automatisms (recurring utterances).

The linguistic performance of 27 aphasics with frequent production of non-lexical speech automatisms (recurrent utterances; e.g. do-do-do...) in spontaneous speech was investigated. Of the 26 patients examined with the Aachen aphasia test (AAT), 24 cases suffered from global aphasia, one from Broca's aphasia, and one was not classifiable but most resembled the fluent types as Wernicke's or conduction aphasia. While most patients were severely impaired in language comprehension, a subgroup showed impairments on a moderate level. In four cases clear dissociations between oral and written output performance were found. Only one patient, and very rarely so, interspersed his written output with his speech automatism. Analysis of written output within the theoretical framework of the logogen model provided evidence for the possibility of a partially intact phonological system in patients with speech automatisms. Results are interpreted as supporting a sub-phonemic hypothesis of the generation of non-lexical speech automatisms.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Communicative skills in chronic and severe nonfluent aphasia.

A diagnostic tool was developed for the investigation of communicative skills in nonfluent aphasic patients suffering from moderate or severe language deficits. Communicative skills and neurolinguistic deficits were assessed in 20 patients suffering from Broca's or global aphasia. Comparative data analysis revealed remarkably low correlations between communicative and neurolinguistic deficits. In nonfluent aphasic patients with severe linguistic impairment communicative abilities and non- and paralinguistic compensatory efforts and skills accounted for their efficient performance.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Nonverbal communication as a compensative strategy for severely nonfluent aphasics? A quantitative approach.

Seven severely nonfluent aphasics and one relative or close friend were investigated in an interview situation. The conversation was videotaped and analyzed for the use of nonverbal communication between aphasic and partner. The results indicate that the group of aphasics used significantly more frequently and for a significantly longer period of time nonverbal channels of communication than their healthy partners. The aphasic patients also used significantly fewer speech-focused movements and significantly more codified gestures. Nonverbal elements were more frequently used as speech substitutes by the group of aphasics.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

On the neurolinguistic nature of language abnormalities in Huntington's disease.

Spontaneous language of 18 patients suffering from Huntington's disease and 15 dysarthric controls suffering from Friedreich's ataxia were investigated. In addition, language functions in various modalities were assessed with the Aachen Aphasia Test (AAT). The Huntington patients exhibited deficits in the syntactical complexity of spontaneous speech and in the Token Test, confrontation naming, and language comprehension subtests of the AAT, which are interpreted as resulting from their dementia. Errors affecting word access mechanisms and production of syntactical structures as such were not encountered.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Event-related brain potentials (P300) and neuropsychological deficit in patients with focal brain lesions.

Sixteen patients with chronic focal brain lesions were investigated with an acoustic P300 test and psychological tests of spatial abilities (Maze Tracing Speed Test, Form Board Test), cognitive speed (Sequential Number Connection Test), categorization (Figure Sorting Test), verbal fluency and vigilance. Neither the psychological battery nor P300 analysis discriminated frontal from retrorolandic brain lesions. Abnormalities of P300 significantly correlated with impairments in those psychological tests which had a spinal component in common. We suggest that abnormality of the P300 with focal brain damage rather indicates higher mental function impairment than direct effects of the lesion.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Observations on regional cerebral blood flow in cortical and subcortical structures during language production in normal man.

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was studied by single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) of inhaled xenon-133 in six normal volunteers during various language, articulatory, and control conditions. Language production increased rCBF in predominantly left-sided cortical and subcortical areas. The involved regions were anatomically related to a left frontal area (Broca's), to both caudate nuclei, to a left thalamic/pallidal area, and bilaterally in retrorolandic areas. The failure to demonstrate lateralized retrorolandic activity is thought to reflect the complexity of the tasks.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Two syndromes of aphasia occurring with ischemic lesions involving the left basal ganglia.

Seven aphasic patients with circumscribed left basal ganglia infarctions were investigated within the first 15 days after their strokes. Five showed transcortical motor aphasia initially. Two patients suffered from anterior chorioideal artery infarction. As this vessel does not contribute to cortical supply, cortical malfunction probably cannot account for the language deficits. Patients with infarctions in the supply area of anterior lenticulostriate arteries became fluent with frequent phonemic and semantic paraphasias resembling Wernicke's aphasia. Three of four patients showed transiently more pronounced deficits in auditory than in written-language comprehension.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Treatment of chronic global aphasia with a nonverbal communication system.

Four chronic global aphasics were treated with Blissymbols (C. K. Bliss, 1965, Semantography-Blissymbolics, Sydney: Semantography Pub.). As soon as possible the therapeutic communication was based solely on the use of the symbols. Three patients seemed to benefit from therapy. In one case therapy had to be discontinued because of massive perseveration. In one patient expression of needs relied solely on the use of the symbols. In another, expressive speech could be restored to such an extent that communication by the use of symbols was discontinued.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Neuropsychologic findings in Friedreich's ataxia.

Fifteen patients with Friedreich's ataxia underwent a battery of neuropsychologic tests. All subjects had normal visual acuity. There was no indication that Friedreich's ataxia is a dementing disease. The patients showed an impairment in tests of spatial construction and in one test of conceptual perception. Cerebellar structures may be involved in certain spatial tasks, and a lack of training of action in space, as a result of the disease, may also account for the deficits. The motor and somatosensory impairment could be ruled out as a major cause.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Language and cognitive deficits resulting from medial and dorsolateral frontal lobe lesions.

A total of 36 patients with chronic unilateral circumscribed medial and dorsolateral frontal lobe lesions were investigated with a range of neuropsychological tests. Lateralized deficits in tasks depending on language functions were found with dorsolateral but not with medial lesions. The specific role of Broca's area could not be confirmed. Lesions of the supplementary motor area led to mild deficits in tests of "concept formation". Frontomedial lesions situated more deeply in the interhemispheric fissure resulted in memory deficits. The results are discussed on the basis of recent neurophysiological theories of brain function.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Lesions of the basal ganglia, thalamus, and deep white matter: differential effects on language functions.

Forty-five patients with unilateral demarcated vascular lesions in the basal ganglia, the thalamus and the deep white matter were investigated with an "aphasia battery." Patients with basal ganglia lesions performed worse than both other groups in tests of articulation, syntax, and lexical functions. The deficit of patients with basal ganglia lesions on all expressive language modalities was lateralized to the left hemisphere. Patients with left thalamic lesions showed impairments of speech fluency and in the Token Test. Patients with white matter lesions alone showed no effect of laterality in tests of language functions. The results are discussed on the basis of a recent theory of the participation of the deep nuclei in language processing.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Repetitive phenomenona in the spontaneous speech of aphasic patients: perseveration, stereotypy, echolalia, automatism and recurring utterance].

Repetitive phenomena in spontaneous speech were investigated in 30 patients with chronic infarctions of the left hemisphere which included Broca's and/or Wernicke's area and/or the basal ganglia. Perseverations, stereotypies, and echolalias occurred with all types of brain lesions, automatisms and recurring utterances only with those patients, whose infarctions involved Wernicke's area and basal ganglia. These patients also showed more echolalic responses. The results are discussed in view of the role of the basal ganglia as motor program generators.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Neuropsychological deficits associated with small unilateral thalamic lesions.

Neuropsychological deficits resulting from small, well demarcated, unilateral thalamic lesions were investigated in 13 right-handed patients. Fourteen patients with deep white matter lesions and 12 normal subjects served as controls. The performance of thalamic patients was generally worse than that of normals and patients with white matter lesions, although the lesions in the latter were significantly larger. There was no clear indication of a dichotomous lateralization of function at the level of the thalamus, although patients with left-sided lesions performed less well in almost all tests. There was some evidence of a rostrocaudal dichotomy, rostral thalamic lesions leading to memory deficits and caudal lesions to impairments of 'abstraction' and 'categorization'.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Transitory impairment of vision after light head trauma in childhood.

From a group of 101 children, eleven (10.9 p.c. ranging in age from 4--12) reported transient visual disturbances such as blurred vision, grey vision or photopsias immediately after a light head trauma. As to the origin of these impediments all evidence points to the occipital areas. Oculopupillary defects or pathological nystagmus phenomena were in no case associated. The frequency of pathological EEG recording over the occipital area was statistically significant (chi-quadrat = 4.27; p less than or equal to 0.05). The pathogenetic mechanism may be explained by means of a local oedematous reaction.

Adolescent↗