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Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
Published in: Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports 7/2018

01-07-2018 | Behavior (H S Kirshner, Section Editor)

Thalamic Lesions and Aphasia or Neglect

Authors: Shinichiro Maeshima, Aiko Osawa

Published in: Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports | Issue 7/2018

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

When the thalamus is damaged, not only are there neurological symptoms such as sensory impairment, hemianopia, or motor control disorders, but there are also various neuropsychological symptoms. We discuss the basic anatomy and function of the thalamus followed by a discussion of thalamic aphasia and hemineglect.

Recent Findings

Subcortical lesions in patients with hemineglect involved the anatomical network directly linked to the superior temporal gyrus. Furthermore, the pulvinar, part of the thalamus, may be associated with hemineglect. General linguistic tasks activated the thalami, depending on the difficulty, as well as the frontal and temporal lobes. The thalamus may play a role in language and be involved in the activation of cortical language areas, and in the linguistic integration function via verbal memory and semantic mechanisms.

Summary

Thalamic lesions are associated with aphasia and hemineglect. It is possible the mechanisms and such neuropsychological may be different depending on the size and site of the thalamic lesion.
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Metadata
Title
Thalamic Lesions and Aphasia or Neglect
Authors
Shinichiro Maeshima
Aiko Osawa
Publication date
01-07-2018
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports / Issue 7/2018
Print ISSN: 1528-4042
Electronic ISSN: 1534-6293
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-018-0844-4

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