Two Forms of Palilalia: A Clinicoanatomical Study

Abstract

The clinical and neuroradiological findings of three patients with marked palilalia due to different neurological disorders are reported. These cases and others in the literature suggest the possibility of different variations. “Spasmodic, heterophonic palilalia” is typically observed in Parkinson's syndrome and pseudobulbar palsy: the content of palilalia is characteristically changed by interruption. “Atonic, homophonic, autoecholalic palilalia” is mainly seen in Pick's disease, and is not affected by external interruption.

Membranous lipodystrophy presenting with palilalia: a PET study of cerebral glucose metabolism

“…In some cases, palilalia develops after infarction in the paramedian nucleus of the thalamus and midbrain (12). Recently, Ikeda et al (13) showed that``spasmodic, heterophonic palilalia'' is related to dysfunction of the basal ganglia and brainstem, whereas``atonic, homophonic, autoecholalic palilalia'' is related to dysfunction of the frontal convexity. The latter type of palilalia present in this patient can be ascribed to dysfunction in the frontal lobe where CMRGlc decreased signi®cantly.…”

Palilalia and Repetitive Speech: Two Case Studies

“…In an early attempt to further differentiate palilalia, Sterling (1924) has distinguished two types: Type A, which he called ''palilalie spasmodique,'' or ''heterolalique,'' which is characterized by compulsive reiteration of utterances with increasing rapidity and decreasing volume. Type B, ''palilalie atonique,'' or ''homolalique'' is characterized by reiteration of utterances at a constant rate alternating with periods of silence, a distinction subsequently noted only by Ikeda and Tanabe (1992) and neglected by most clincians. These two types of reiterative speech suggest two separate malfunctions in the speech production system.…”

Involuntary Vocalisations and a Complex Hyperkinetic Movement Disorder Following Left Side Thalamic Haemorrhage

“…If this connectivity of the pulvinar and the posterolateral nuclei is related to the emergence of involuntary vocalisations in our patient can not be inferred from our clinical observations. Palilalia has been described following thalamic infarctions [11] and thalamic surgery in Parkinson's disease [22].…”

“…It was recognized as a comparably rare speech disorder associated with various basal ganglia diseases (e.g. postencephalitic parkinsonism, progressive supranuclear palsy or Gilles de la Tourette syndrome) or disorders of the frontal lobes [5,11,19]. The repetitions are often uttered with increasing rapidity and decreasing voice volume (palilalia aphone).…”