Network-based statistics distinguish anomic and Broca ’s aphasia

This study aims to identify differences in resting-state functional connectivity between anomic and Broca ’s aphasia measured through resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).MethodsWe used the network-based statistic (NBS) method, as well as voxel- and connectome-based lesion symptom mapping (V-, CLSM), to identify distinct neural correlates of the anomic and Broca ’s groups. To control for lesion effect, we included lesion volume as a covariate in both the NBS method and LSM.ResultsNBS identified a subnetwork located in the dorsal language stream bilaterally, including supramarginal gyrus, primary sensory, motor, and auditory cortices, and insula. The connections in the subnetwork were weaker in the Broca ’s group than the anomic group. The properties of the subnetwork were examined through complex network measures, which indicated that regions in right inferior frontal sulcus, right paracentral lobule, and bilateral superior temporal gyrus exhibit intensive interaction. Left superior temporal gyru s, right postcentral gyrus, and left supramarginal gyrus play an important role in information flow and overall communication efficiency. Disruption of this network underlies the constellation of symptoms associated with Broca’s aphasia. Whole-brain CLSM did not detect any significant connections, suggesting an advantage of NBS when thousands of connections are considered. However, CLSM identified connections that differentiated Broca’s from anomic ...
Source: Anatomy and Embryology - Category: Anatomy Source Type: research