Brain damage and cortical compensation in foreign accent syndrome

Neurocase. 2005 Oct;11(5):319-24. doi: 10.1080/13554790591006302.

Abstract

Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS) is a well-known neurological deficit whose underlying cause has remained obscure despite almost a century of study. Combining structural and functional imaging, our studies suggest that FAS represents a compensatory response to impaired motor regulation of speech. We describe a patient who acquired FAS as a result of an ischemic stroke in the left basal ganglia. In addition to this case being exceptionally clean, we were able to confirm a specific lesion location as well as provide strong evidence that impaired motor speech regulation resulted in compensation by other areas of the cortical motor speech network.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brain Injuries / complications
  • Brain Injuries / pathology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / blood supply
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / classification
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Speech Disorders / etiology
  • Speech Disorders / pathology*
  • Verbal Behavior / physiology*