Copyright © 2003 by K. Stromswold

 

 

Lab 12:  Neurolinguistics

 

 

In this lab, you will listen to recordings of two aphasic patients (the transcripts of which will be given to you by your TA).  Based on your analysis of these recordings, answer the following questions

 

A.  Which patient (patient A or patient B) better fits the classic description of a Broca's aphasic?

 

B.  Which patient (patient A or patient B) better fits the classic description of a Wernicke's aphasic?

 

C.  What is it about the patient that you have identified as the Broca's aphasic that makes you think he has Broca's aphasia?  Be as specific as possible.  List specific aspects of the patient's comprehension and/or production of language that are consistent with this diagnosis.  Point to specific examples in the transcript.  Are there any aspects of the patient's comprehension and/or production of language that are not consistent with this diagnosis.  Point to specific examples in the transcript. 

 

 

 

 

 

D.  What is it about the patient that you have identified as the Wernicke's aphasic that makes you think he has Wernicke's aphasia?  Be as specific as possible. List specific aspects of the patient's comprehension and/or production of language that are consistent with this diagnosis.  Point to specific examples in the transcript.  Are there any aspects of the patient's comprehension and/or production of language that are not consistent with this diagnosis.  Point to specific examples in the transcript.

 

 

 

 

 

E.  Your TA will give you a schematic drawing of the lateral view of the left hemisphere on which two regions are identified.  According to classical descriptions of aphasia, which of the two regions (regions 1 or 2) are more likely to be damaged in patient A?  Which of the two regions (regions 1 or 2) are more likely to be damaged in patient B? 

 

 

 

Some potentially interesting neurolinguistic websites

 

http://www.biology.about.com/science/biology/library/organs/brain/blbrain.htm

Anatomy of the Brain.  An outline with illustrations for students. Includes concise sections on Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area

 

http://www.stroke.cwc.net/niweb/faq.htm#14 different parts of the brain do

What Do Different Parts of the Brain Do? 

Question 12 in a series of frequently asked questions written for stroke victims and their families features a clear, color-coded, numbered diagram of the left hemisphere, with an explanation.  Question 13 concerns speech problems.

 

Aphasia

http://www.asha.org/speech/disabilities/Aphasia_info.cfm

http://fuzzy.iau.dtu.dk/aphasia.nsf

http://www.asha.org/speech/disabilities/index.cfm

http://www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB/home.html