Interest in the function of subcortical structures in cognitive function has grown in the last decades. Such interest has increased after the advent of modern innovations in radiology techniques, which provide a better visualization of subcortical lesions, like computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cortical blood flow and metabolism studies also brought a better understanding of diaschisis mechanisms in vivo and improved our knowledge about the pathophysiology of subcortical lesions. The purpose of this study was to identify language and/or speech alterations in patients with exclusively subcortical lesions and to establish a profile of such alterations. The author compared the profiles obtained from thalamic and non-thalamic lesions, trying to define some pathophysiologic mechanisms subjacent to the lesions. To achieve this purpose, the author studied a group of 16 patients (9 patients with basal ganglia and adjacent white matter pathways lesions and 7 patients with thalamic lesions), chosen on the basis of their CT scan findings, selected from the Emergency Room of Hospital das Clínicas of the
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