This research proposes to characterize the reorganization patterns of the human brain in individuals with chronic aphasia. The study will measure the outcome of reorganization during and after a long-term, speech-plus-gesture communication training. The training is designed to influence recruitment of right hemisphere homologues of left hemisphere language areas in order to promote language recovery in chronic stages of aphasia.
The specific aims of this study are: (1) To improve overall communicative effectiveness in individuals with chronic non-fluent aphasia and (2) To characterize brain reorganization in chronic aphasics through analysis of language-related activation in functional magnetic resonance imaging. It is hypothesized that a multi-modal language intervention, involving both auditory-verbal (speech) and visuo-motor symbolic representation (gesture), will result in increased language-related activation in right hemisphere areas homologous to left hemisphere language areas and be associated with improved speech production and use of gesture in daily communication. This study may provide new insights to the reorganization of the brain following injury in response to training designed to target the recruitment of the right hemisphere. This insight may lead to new strategies in cognitive rehabilitation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
1F31NS048000-01A1
Application #
6893045
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDCN-A (29))
Program Officer
Babcock, Debra J
Project Start
2004-09-24
Project End
2009-09-23
Budget Start
2004-09-24
Budget End
2005-09-23
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$27,787
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Iowa
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
062761671
City
Iowa City
State
IA
Country
United States
Zip Code
52242