Neural regions essential for distinct cognitive processes underlying picture naming

Abstract

We hypothesized that distinct cognitive processes underlying oral and written picture naming depend on intact function of different, but overlapping, regions of the left hemisphere cortex, such that the distribution of tissue dysfunction in various areas can predict the component of the naming process that is disrupted. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated 116 individuals within 24 h of acute ischaemic stroke using a battery of oral and written naming and other lexical tests, and with magnetic resonance diffusion and perfusion imaging to identify the areas of tissue dysfunction. Discriminant function analysis, using the degree of hypoperfusion in various Brodmann's areas--BA 22 (including Wernicke's area), BA 44 (part of Broca's area), BA 45 (part of Broca's area), BA 21 (inferior temporal cortex), BA 37 (posterior, inferior temporal/fusiform gyrus), BA 38 (anterior temporal cortex) and BA 39 (angular gyrus)--as discriminant variables, classified patients on the basis of the primary component of the naming process that was impaired (defined as visual, semantics, modality-independent lexical access, phonological word form, orthographic word form and motor speech by the pattern of performance and types of errors across lexical tasks). Additionally, linear regression analysis demonstrated that the areas contributing the most information to the identification of patients with particular levels of impairment in the naming process were largely consistent with evidence for the roles of these regions from functional imaging. This study provides evidence that the level of impairment in the naming process reflects the distribution of tissue dysfunction in particular regions of the left anterior, inferior and posterior middle/superior temporal cortex, posterior inferior frontal and inferior parietal cortex. While occipital cortex is also critical for picture naming, it is likely that bilateral occipital damage is necessary to disrupt visual recognition. These findings provide new evidence that a network of brain regions supports naming, but separate components of this network are differentially required for distinct cognitive processes or representations underlying the complex task of naming pictures.

Combined noninvasive language mapping by navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation and functional MRI and its comparison with direct cortical stimulation

“…The object-naming task, however, is able to reproduce the whole process of word production and incorporates all presumably language-eloquent brain regions. 13,17,30,66 This has been shown in several studies and for each of the 3 modalities. 9,30,40 However, it has also been shown that fMRI language mapping is more sensitive to anterior than to posterior language-related cortical regions.…”

Functional MRI language mapping in pre-surgical epilepsy patients: Findings from a series of patients in the Epilepsy Unit at Mediclinic Constantiaberg

“…[18] An additional area critical to confrontation naming, a sub-function of language, lies in the baso-lateral temporal lobe. [19][20][21] Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) often report word-finding difficulties and exhibit below-average performance on measures of confrontation naming. The extent of the neocortical (lateral) resection in patients undergoing dominant temporal lobe surgery determines the probability of new (in those without pre-existing dysnomia) or additional word-finding difficulties after surgery.…”

Impairment of preoperative language mapping by lesion location: a functional magnetic resonance imaging, navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation, and direct cortical stimulation study

“…Most importantly, the object-naming task has shown to mirror the entire word production process and includes all language-eloquent brain regions. 9,14,23 Furthermore, as recently described, object naming has to be considered a cornerstone for intraoperative language mapping. 11,33 The reproducibility and reliability of this task have been shown for both fMRI and rTMS language mapping as well.…”