Performance in Picture Naming and Word Comprehension: Evidence for Common Neuronal Substrates from Intraoperative Language Mapping

doi:10.1006/brln.2000.2415

Brain and Language

Volume 76, Issue 2, February 2001, Pages 111-118

https://doi.org/10.1006/brln.2000.2415 Get rights and content

Abstract

Correlations of naming ability and performance in the Token Test are known from aphasia; however, the mechanisms underlying these correlations are unclear. Naming tasks are commonly used in intraoperative mapping for identification of cortical areas involved in language processing. In the present study, we measured performance in an elementary Token Test task, i.e., single word comprehension, during electrical stimulation of cortical sites at which this stimulation previously had disturbed the naming process. It was found that at about half of the sites at which naming could be disturbed electrical stimulation also led to disturbances in Token Test performance, indicating that there are common neural structures critical for performance in both tasks. These findings are discussed in terms of a multilayered semantic network in which the level of the simultaneous binding of features into concepts and the level of units that are organized with respect to semantic relations may be disturbed separately.

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Cited by (20)

Functional MRI and electrical stimulation mapping for language localization: A comparative meta-analysis
2022, Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery
Citation Excerpt :
Both fMRI and ESM show task-specific topography of language function [12,38]. Some studies suggest that visual naming, used most often for ESM, is more sensitive for localization of posterior language areas [15,39], whereas verb generation used commonly for fMRI may preferentially show frontal lobe activation [40]. In one study, object naming was shown to be inferior to verb generation and semantic decision tasks for fMRI language mapping, with improved spatial correspondence between fMRI and intra-operative ESM on using similar language tasks [40].
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic validity of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) compared to electrical stimulation mapping (ESM) for pre-surgical language mapping.
A structured literature search was performed and studies with electrode-level data comparing fMRI and ESM for language localization were analyzed. Outcome measures included pooled estimates of diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), sensitivity, and specificity. Sources of heterogeneity were explored with a meta-regression framework.
Nine studies were included in the analysis having 5–40 patients with mean age 11.3–43.4 years. Verb generation and picture naming were the most common fMRI tasks, while picture naming was the most common ESM task. Sensitivity (0.37–0.95), specificity (0.36–0.97), and DOR (1.9–44.6) for fMRI compared to ESM varied widely across studies with statistically significant heterogeneities. Pooled estimates were: sensitivity 0.71 (95% confidence interval 0.54, 0.83), specificity 0.74 (0.58, 0.85), and DOR 7.0 (3.5, 13.8), from a valid meta-analysis (area under the summary receiver-operating-curve 0.78). fMRI was noted to have higher sensitivity in studies using higher maximal ESM currents. fMRI variables could not be included in the meta-regression because of substantial methodological differences among studies.
fMRI is moderately sensitive and moderately specific for language localization compared to ESM in well-designed studies. However, because the confidence limits for sensitivity and DOR are close to the line of no effect, and there is high unmeasured heterogeneity, fMRI cannot perhaps be used as the only modality for language localization to inform neurosurgical decisions at present.
Electrocorticographic functional mapping identifies human cortex critical for auditory and visual naming
2013, NeuroImage
Citation Excerpt :
However, lesion studies have demonstrated transcortical aphasia in patients with damage to the prefrontal cortex (DeLeon et al., 2007). ESM studies have also described speech arrest, interference with sentence comprehension, verb generation, and with visual naming during dominant frontal stimulation, outside of Broca's area, primary motor, or premotor cortices (Ilmberger et al., 2001; Lesser et al., 1984; Ojemann et al., 2002). In the present study, both auditory and visual naming sites were identified in the anterior frontal cortex, outside of BA 4, 6, 44, and 45, and more auditory descriptive naming sites compared to visual object naming sites were found.
More comprehensive, and efficient, mapping strategies are needed to avoid post-operative language impairments in patients undergoing epilepsy surgery. Conservative resection of dominant anterior frontal or temporal cortex frequently results in post-operative naming deficits despite standard pre-operative electrocortical stimulation mapping of visual object (picture) naming. Naming to auditory description may better simulate word retrieval in human conversation but is not typically tested, in part due to the time demands of electrocortical stimulation mapping. Electrocorticographic high gamma (60–150 Hz) activity, recorded simultaneously through the same electrodes used for stimulation mapping, has recently been used to map brain function more efficiently, and has at times predicted deficits not anticipated based on stimulation mapping alone. The present study investigated electrocorticographic mapping of visual object naming and auditory descriptive naming within conservative dominant temporal or frontal lobe resection boundaries in 16 patients with 933 subdural electrodes implanted for epilepsy surgery planning. A logistic regression model showed that electrodes within traditional conservative dominant frontal or temporal lobe resection boundaries were significantly more likely to record high gamma activity during auditory descriptive naming than during visual object naming. Eleven patients ultimately underwent resection and 7 demonstrated post-operative language deficits not anticipated based on electrocortical stimulation mapping alone. Four patients with post-operative deficits underwent a resection that included sites where high gamma activity was observed during naming. These findings indicate that electrocorticographic mapping of auditory descriptive naming may reduce the risk of permanent post-operative language deficits following dominant temporal or frontal resection.
Intraoperative Neuromonitoring During Resection of Gliomas Involving Eloquent Areas
2021, Frontiers in Neurology
Monitoring cognition during awake brain surgery in adults: A systematic review
2018, Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology
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Awake surgery between art and science. Part II: Language and cognitive mapping
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^☆: Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Josef Ilmberger, Klinik für Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation, Klinikum Grosshadern, Marchioninistr. 15, 81366 München, Germany.

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Regular ArticlePerformance in Picture Naming and Word Comprehension: Evidence for Common Neuronal Substrates from Intraoperative Language Mapping☆

Abstract

Neuropsychologia

Neuropsychologia

Brain and Language

Brain and Cognition

Brain and Language

Speech production and comprehension: one lexicon or two?

Zur Validität des Token-Tests

Nervenarzt

Stages of lexical access in language production

The Token Test: A sensitive test to detect receptive disturbances in aphasics

Brain

Zur Auffassung der Aphasien

Dissociation of visual and auditory order thresholds after cerebral injury in man

Human Neurobiology

Speaking: From intention to articulation

Regular Article
Performance in Picture Naming and Word Comprehension: Evidence for Common Neuronal Substrates from Intraoperative Language Mapping☆