Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2003

DOI

10.2741/1142

Publication Title

Frontiers in Bioscience

Volume

8

Pages

S845-S851

Abstract

Transcortical motor aphasia (TCMA) is an acquired impairment of language expression that occurs following neurologic damage that affects left frontal cortex and spares perisylvian regions. In some individuals with TCMA, verbal expression is rendered nonfluent due to difficulty spontaneously initiating and elaborating upon verbal messages. Nonfluency arises from impaired activation of intended messages and inhibition of competing verbal expressions. This impairment of the intentional aspects of language expression can be termed 'adynamia.' Because adynamic forms of TCMA occur infrequently, few systematic treatment investigations have been reported for this condition. Behavioral treatments have been proposed to engage intact frontal regions to improve the ability to initiate spontaneous verbal expression. Some data suggest that nonsymbolic limb movements performed in the context of speaking activities, a form of what Luria termed gestural reorganization, may improve the adynamic verbal expression. (1) In addition, the influence of pharmacologic treatment with bromocriptine, a dopaminergic agonist, has been considered for its effects on verbal nonfluency in aphasia. Individuals classified as TCMA are more likely to benefit than those with other forms of nonfluent aphasia, suggesting an influence of bromocriptine on circuits necessary to activate spontaneous language. Additional studies are warranted that contrast behavioral and pharmacologic interventions to determine optimal conditions to improve verbal expression in adynamic forms of aphasia.

Rights

Article is open access under a Creative Commons CC-BY License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

ORCID

0000-0002-5661-8630 (Raymer)

Original Publication Citation

Raymer, A. M. (2003). Treatment of adynamia in aphasia. Frontiers in Bioscience, 8, S845-S851. https://doi.org/10.2741/1142

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