Aphasia Neuroplasticity Review

van Oers et al. (2010)

Reference

Authors	van Oers CA, Vink M, van Zandvoort MJ, van der Worp HB, de Haan EH, Kappelle LJ, Ramsey NF, Dijkhuizen RM
Title	Contribution of the left and right inferior frontal gyrus in recovery from aphasia: a functional MRI study in stroke patients with preserved hemodynamic responsiveness
Reference	NeuroImage 2010; 49: 885-893
PMID	19733673
DOI	10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.08.057

Participants

Language	Dutch
Inclusion criteria	MCA; mRS < 3; able to perform at least 2 out of the 3 tasks
Number of individuals with aphasia	13
Number of control participants	13
Were any of the participants included in any previous studies?	No
Is age reported for patients and controls, and matched?	Yes (mean 53 ± 14 years, range 29-74 years)
Is sex reported for patients and controls, and matched?	Yes (males: 4; females: 9)
Is handedness reported for patients and controls, and matched?	No (right: 13; left: 0; not stated for controls)
Is time post stroke onset reported and appropriate to the study design?	Yes (range 1.3-4.7 years)
To what extent is the nature of aphasia characterized?	Comprehensive battery
Language evaluation	AAT, BNT, TT
Aphasia severity	4 moderate, 4 severe, 3 recovered, 2 mild; all had aphasia initially
Aphasia type	5 anomic, 4 Broca's, 3 recovered, 1 Wernicke's
First stroke only?	Yes
Stroke type	Ischemic only
To what extent is the lesion distribution characterized?	Individual lesions
Lesion extent	Range 6.0-167.3 cc
Lesion location	L MCA
Participants notes	—

Imaging

Modality	fMRI
Is the study cross-sectional or longitudinal?	Cross-sectional
If longitudinal, at what time point(s) were imaging data acquired?	Behavioral data (TT and a naming measure) were also acquired subacutely (mean 26 ± 18 days, range 5-56 days)
If longitudinal, was there any intervention between the time points?	—
Is the scanner described?	Yes (Philips Achieva 3 Tesla)
Is the timing of stimulus presentation and image acquisition clearly described and appropriate?	Yes
Design type	Block
Total images acquired	3036
Are the imaging acquisition parameters, including coverage, adequately described and appropriate?	Yes (whole brain)
Is preprocessing and intrasubject coregistration adequately described and appropriate?	Yes
Is first level model fitting adequately described and appropriate?	Yes
Is intersubject normalization adequately described and appropriate?	Yes
Imaging notes	breath holding scan also done to measure hemodynamic responsiveness

Conditions

Are the conditions clearly described?

Yes

Condition	Response type	Repetitions	All groups could do?	All individuals could do?
written word-picture matching	Button press	6	Yes	Yes
semantic decision	Button press	6	Yes	Yes
verb generation	Word (covert)	8	Yes	Yes
visual decision	Button press	12	Unknown	Unknown
rest	None	20	N/A	N/A

Conditions notes

Patients who could not do tasks were excluded from analyses of those tasks (1 patient from semantic decision; 3 patients from verb generation); wording is somewhat unclear regarding exclusion of patients who could not perform verb generation, but we assume they were excluded

Contrasts

Are the contrasts clearly described?

No (see specific limitation(s) below)

Contrast 1: written word-picture matching vs visual decision

Language condition	Written word-picture matching
Control condition	Visual decision
Are the conditions matched for visual demands?	No
Are the conditions matched for auditory demands?	Yes
Are the conditions matched for motor demands?	Yes
Are the conditions matched for cognitive/executive demands?	No
Is accuracy matched between the language and control tasks for all relevant groups?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched between the language and control tasks for all relevant groups?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	Accuracy not reported for control condition
Are control data reported in this paper or another that is referenced?	Yes
Does the contrast selectively activate plausible relevant language regions in the control group?	Somewhat
Are activations lateralized in the control data?	Somewhat
Control activation notes	—
Contrast notes	Not clearly stated that language tasks were contrasted only with arrow decision task and not rest for the first two contrasts, but this can be inferred

Contrast 2: semantic decision vs visual decision

Language condition	Semantic decision
Control condition	Visual decision
Are the conditions matched for visual demands?	No
Are the conditions matched for auditory demands?	Yes
Are the conditions matched for motor demands?	Yes
Are the conditions matched for cognitive/executive demands?	No
Is accuracy matched between the language and control tasks for all relevant groups?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched between the language and control tasks for all relevant groups?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	Accuracy not reported for control condition
Are control data reported in this paper or another that is referenced?	Yes
Does the contrast selectively activate plausible relevant language regions in the control group?	Somewhat
Are activations lateralized in the control data?	Somewhat
Control activation notes	—
Contrast notes	Not clearly stated that language tasks were contrasted only with arrow decision task and not rest for the first two contrasts, but this can be inferred

Contrast 3: verb generation vs rest

Language condition	Verb generation
Control condition	Rest
Are the conditions matched for visual demands?	No
Are the conditions matched for auditory demands?	Yes
Are the conditions matched for motor demands?	Yes
Are the conditions matched for cognitive/executive demands?	No
Is accuracy matched between the language and control tasks for all relevant groups?	N/A, tasks not comparable
Is reaction time matched between the language and control tasks for all relevant groups?	N/A, tasks not comparable
Behavioral data notes	—
Are control data reported in this paper or another that is referenced?	Yes
Does the contrast selectively activate plausible relevant language regions in the control group?	Somewhat
Are activations lateralized in the control data?	Somewhat
Control activation notes	—
Contrast notes	—

Analyses

Are the analyses clearly described?

No (see specific limitation(s) below)

ROI analysis 1

First level contrast	Written word-picture matching vs visual decision
Analysis class	Cross-sectional aphasia vs control
Group(s)	Aphasia vs control
Covariate	—
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	Yes
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	Accuracy not reported for control condition
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Mixed
How many ROIs are there?	7
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) L anterior language region (IFG); (2) L posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (3) R anterior language region (IFG); (4) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (5) frontal LI; (6) temporal LI; (7) whole network LI
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	↓ L IFG ↓ LI (language network) ↓ LI (frontal)
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 2

First level contrast	Semantic decision vs visual decision
Analysis class	Cross-sectional aphasia vs control
Group(s)	Aphasia vs control
Covariate	—
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	Yes
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	Accuracy not reported for control condition
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Mixed
How many ROIs are there?	7
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) L anterior language region (IFG); (2) L posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (3) R anterior language region (IFG); (4) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (5) frontal LI; (6) temporal LI; (7) whole network LI
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	↓ L IFG ↓ LI (language network) ↓ LI (frontal)
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 3

First level contrast	Verb generation vs rest
Analysis class	Cross-sectional aphasia vs control
Group(s)	Aphasia vs control
Covariate	—
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	Yes
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Mixed
How many ROIs are there?	7
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) L anterior language region (IFG); (2) L posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (3) R anterior language region (IFG); (4) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (5) frontal LI; (6) temporal LI; (7) whole network LI
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	↓ L IFG ↓ LI (language network) ↓ LI (frontal)
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 4

First level contrast	Written word-picture matching vs visual decision
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Picture-word matching accuracy
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	Yes
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Accuracy is covariate
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Mixed
How many ROIs are there?	7
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) L anterior language region (IFG); (2) L posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (3) R anterior language region (IFG); (4) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (5) frontal LI; (6) temporal LI; (7) whole network LI
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	None
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 5

First level contrast	Semantic decision vs visual decision
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Semantic decision accuracy
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	Yes
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Accuracy is covariate
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Mixed
How many ROIs are there?	7
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) L anterior language region (IFG); (2) L posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (3) R anterior language region (IFG); (4) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (5) frontal LI; (6) temporal LI; (7) whole network LI
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	None
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 6

First level contrast	Written word-picture matching vs visual decision
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Overall language measure
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	Yes
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Mixed
How many ROIs are there?	7
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) L anterior language region (IFG); (2) L posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (3) R anterior language region (IFG); (4) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (5) frontal LI; (6) temporal LI; (7) whole network LI
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	None
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 7

First level contrast	Semantic decision vs visual decision
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Overall language measure
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	Yes
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Mixed
How many ROIs are there?	7
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) L anterior language region (IFG); (2) L posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (3) R anterior language region (IFG); (4) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (5) frontal LI; (6) temporal LI; (7) whole network LI
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	Not clear if it was LI for whole language network
Findings	↑ LI (language network)
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 8

First level contrast	Verb generation vs rest
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Overall language measure
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	Yes
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Mixed
How many ROIs are there?	7
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) L anterior language region (IFG); (2) L posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (3) R anterior language region (IFG); (4) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (5) frontal LI; (6) temporal LI; (7) whole network LI
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	None
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 9

First level contrast	Written word-picture matching vs visual decision
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Lesion volume
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	Yes
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Anatomical
How many ROIs are there?	2
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) R anterior language region (IFG); (2) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG)
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	None
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 10

First level contrast	Semantic decision vs visual decision
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Lesion volume
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	Yes
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Anatomical
How many ROIs are there?	2
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) R anterior language region (IFG); (2) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG)
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	None
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 11

First level contrast	Verb generation vs rest
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Lesion volume
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	Yes
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Anatomical
How many ROIs are there?	2
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) R anterior language region (IFG); (2) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG)
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	None
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 12

First level contrast	Written word-picture matching vs visual decision
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Damage to L hemisphere language regions
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	Yes
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Anatomical
How many ROIs are there?	2
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) R anterior language region (IFG); (2) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG)
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	None
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 13

First level contrast	Semantic decision vs visual decision
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Damage to L hemisphere language regions
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	Yes
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Anatomical
How many ROIs are there?	2
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) R anterior language region (IFG); (2) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG)
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	None
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 14

First level contrast	Verb generation vs rest
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Damage to L hemisphere language regions
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	Yes
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Anatomical
How many ROIs are there?	2
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) R anterior language region (IFG); (2) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG)
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	None
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 15

First level contrast	Written word-picture matching vs visual decision
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Previous (current vs subacute) Δ naming
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	No (current activation will reflect not just prior recovery, but also current language function)
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Anatomical
How many ROIs are there?	7
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) L anterior language region (IFG); (2) L posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (3) R anterior language region (IFG); (4) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (5) frontal LI; (6) temporal LI; (7) whole network LI
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	None
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 16

First level contrast	Semantic decision vs visual decision
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Previous (current vs subacute) Δ naming
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	No (current activation will reflect not just prior recovery, but also current language function)
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Anatomical
How many ROIs are there?	7
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) L anterior language region (IFG); (2) L posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (3) R anterior language region (IFG); (4) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (5) frontal LI; (6) temporal LI; (7) whole network LI
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	↑ L IFG
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 17

First level contrast	Verb generation vs rest
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Previous (current vs subacute) Δ naming
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	No (current activation will reflect not just prior recovery, but also current language function)
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Anatomical
How many ROIs are there?	7
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) L anterior language region (IFG); (2) L posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (3) R anterior language region (IFG); (4) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (5) frontal LI; (6) temporal LI; (7) whole network LI
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	↑ L IFG
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 18

First level contrast	Written word-picture matching vs visual decision
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Previous (current vs subacute) Δ TT
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	No (current activation will reflect not just prior recovery, but also current language function; TT not optimal measure of overall language function)
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Anatomical
How many ROIs are there?	7
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) L anterior language region (IFG); (2) L posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (3) R anterior language region (IFG); (4) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (5) frontal LI; (6) temporal LI; (7) whole network LI
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	None
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 19

First level contrast	Semantic decision vs visual decision
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Previous (current vs subacute) Δ TT
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	No (current activation will reflect not just prior recovery, but also current language function; TT not optimal measure of overall language function)
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Anatomical
How many ROIs are there?	7
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) L anterior language region (IFG); (2) L posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (3) R anterior language region (IFG); (4) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (5) frontal LI; (6) temporal LI; (7) whole network LI
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	↑ L IFG ↑ R IFG
Findings notes	—

ROI analysis 20

First level contrast	Verb generation vs rest
Analysis class	Cross-sectional correlation with language or other measure
Group(s)	Aphasia
Covariate	Previous (current vs subacute) Δ TT
Is the second level contrast valid in terms of the group(s), time point(s), and measures involved?	No (current activation will reflect not just prior recovery, but also current language function; TT not optimal measure of overall language function)
Is accuracy matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Is reaction time matched across the second level contrast?	Unknown, not reported
Behavioral data notes	—
Type of analysis	Regions of interest (ROI)
ROI type	Anatomical
How many ROIs are there?	7
What are the ROI(s)?	(1) L anterior language region (IFG); (2) L posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (3) R anterior language region (IFG); (4) R posterior language region (AG, SMG, STG, MTG); (5) frontal LI; (6) temporal LI; (7) whole network LI
How are the ROI(s) defined?	WFU pickatlas
Correction for multiple comparisons	No correction
Statistical details	—
Findings	↑ L IFG ↑ R IFG
Findings notes	—

Notes

Excluded analyses

—