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Right fronto-parietal white matter disruption contributes to speech impairments in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

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posted on 2023-06-09, 20:47 authored by Antonio Merico, Matteo De Marco, Giulia Berta, Riccardo Manca, Giovanni Giulietti, Marco Bozzali, Annalena Venneri
INTRODUCTION Non-linguistic properties of speech are widely heterogeneous and require complex neurological integration. The association between white matter integrity and the severity of dysarthria was investigated in a group of patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS Thirty-six patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis completed a magnetic resonance imaging protocol inclusive of diffusion-weighted images. A clinical assessment of pneumo-phono-articulatory abilities was conducted for each patient, and a composite score of residual speech capacity was calculated. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics was carried out to model the potential association between residual speech capacity and microstructural properties of white matter (fractional anisotropy, mean and radial diffusivity). RESULTS A significant negative association was found between residual speech capacity and mean diffusivity in a large white matter cluster located in frontal, parietal and right temporal regions. These subcortical areas were characterised by pathological microstructural disruption, as revealed bypost hoc analyses. CONCLUSIONS Non-linguistic aspects of speech are associated with microstructural integrity of frontal, parietal and right temporal white matter in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Such mapping is consistent with the centres responsible of volitional control of speech and sensory feedback during non-linguistic speech production.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Brain Research Bulletin

ISSN

0361-9230

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

158

Page range

77-83

Department affiliated with

  • BSMS Neuroscience Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2020-03-11

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2021-03-01

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2020-03-09

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