fMRI Outcomes of Intensive Language Action Therapy for Aphasia: A Systematic Review
Abstract/Description
Intensive language action therapy (ILAT, Difrancesco et al., 2012) is a speech therapy for stroke-induced aphasia that fosters verbal production. We conducted a systematic review of studies implementing fMRI to explore neural changes associated with ILAT. We predicted greater changes in left than right cerebral hemispheres.
Our search identified 4 case studies (Meinzer et al., 2006, 2007; Kurland et al., 2010, 2012) and 5 group studies (Meinzer et al., 2008; Richter et al., 2008; Mohr et al., 2014; Nenert et al., 2017; Dreyer et al., 2021). We implemented an fMRI appraisal checklist (Simic et al., 2023) to appraise MRI methods and statistical analyses. Most fMRI details were reported for image preprocessing and statistical analyses.
The nine studies reported on 65 individuals with chronic post-stroke aphasia who improved significantly on standard aphasia tests. Following ILAT, increased left hemisphere activation was reported in four case studies. Treatment response was positively correlated with increased activation in left hemisphere for 2 of 4 group studies. Increased right hemisphere activation was evident following treatment in three case studies and one group study. Treatment response was positively correlated with increased right hemisphere activation in one group study and with decreased right hemisphere activation in another group study.
Our prediction was supported in part as our review indicated left hemisphere increases and right hemisphere decreases following ILAT associated with positive treatment response. Methodologic differences in imaging procedures across studies make it difficult to identify clear patterns across studies, suggesting the need for standard procedures in future research.
fMRI Outcomes of Intensive Language Action Therapy for Aphasia: A Systematic Review
Intensive language action therapy (ILAT, Difrancesco et al., 2012) is a speech therapy for stroke-induced aphasia that fosters verbal production. We conducted a systematic review of studies implementing fMRI to explore neural changes associated with ILAT. We predicted greater changes in left than right cerebral hemispheres.
Our search identified 4 case studies (Meinzer et al., 2006, 2007; Kurland et al., 2010, 2012) and 5 group studies (Meinzer et al., 2008; Richter et al., 2008; Mohr et al., 2014; Nenert et al., 2017; Dreyer et al., 2021). We implemented an fMRI appraisal checklist (Simic et al., 2023) to appraise MRI methods and statistical analyses. Most fMRI details were reported for image preprocessing and statistical analyses.
The nine studies reported on 65 individuals with chronic post-stroke aphasia who improved significantly on standard aphasia tests. Following ILAT, increased left hemisphere activation was reported in four case studies. Treatment response was positively correlated with increased activation in left hemisphere for 2 of 4 group studies. Increased right hemisphere activation was evident following treatment in three case studies and one group study. Treatment response was positively correlated with increased right hemisphere activation in one group study and with decreased right hemisphere activation in another group study.
Our prediction was supported in part as our review indicated left hemisphere increases and right hemisphere decreases following ILAT associated with positive treatment response. Methodologic differences in imaging procedures across studies make it difficult to identify clear patterns across studies, suggesting the need for standard procedures in future research.