Beyond aphasia: Altered EEG connectivity in Broca's patients during working memory task.
Broca's region and adjacent cortex presumably take part in working memory (WM) processes. Electrophysiologically, these processes are reflected in synchronized oscillations. We present the first study exploring the effects of a stroke causing Broca's aphasia on these processes and specifically on synchronized functional WM networks. We used high-density EEG and coherence analysis to map WM networks in ten Broca's patients and ten healthy controls during verbal WM task. Our results demonstrate that a stroke resulting in Broca's aphasia also alters two distinct WM networks. These theta and gamma functional networks likely reflect the executive and the phonological processes, respectively. The striking imbalance between task-related theta synchronization and desynchronization in Broca's patients might represent a disrupted balance between task-positive and WM-irrelevant functional networks. There is complete disintegration of left fronto-centroparietal gamma network in Broca's patients, which could reflect the damaged phonological loop.
['Rutar Gorišek|Veronika|V|', 'Zupanc Isoski|Vlasta|V|', 'Belič|Aleš|A|', 'Manouilidou|Christina|C|', 'Koritnik|Blaž|B|', 'Bon|Jure|J|', 'Pečarič Meglič|Nuška|N|', 'Vrabec|Matej|M|', 'Žibert|Janez|J|', 'Repovš|Grega|G|', 'Zidar|Janez|J|']
D000368:Aged D001039:Aphasia, Broca D016022:Case-Control Studies D002540:Cerebral Cortex D004569:Electroencephalography D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena D056344:Executive Function D005260:Female D065818:Gamma Rhythm D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008570:Memory, Short-Term D008875:Middle Aged D020521:Stroke D013826:Theta Rhythm
Working memory Synchronized oscillations Theta Gamma Phonological loop Broca’s aphasia Default mode network EEG coherence Multiple demand network