[Recovery from vascular aphasia: prognostic factors and evidence from functional brain imaging]. / Récupération de l'aphasie d'origine vasculaire: facteurs de pronostic et apport de la neuro-imagerie fonctionnelle.

INTRODUCTION: Aphasia is a devastating language impairment resulting from acquired brain damage and resulting in severe communication handicap. Aphasia onset is generally followed by some degree of recovery. STATE OF ART: Prognosis of recovery is considered to depend upon a series of interacting neurobiological and individual factors. Prognosis is better determined based on neurobiological factors, whereas individual factors have a less predictable clinical outcome value. In addition, the results of recent functional neuro-imaging studies allow us to better understand the functional anatomy of the recovery from vascular aphasia. The neuro-imaging literature suggests that recovery from aphasia could depend upon right homologous to language areas, as well as on preserved perilesional left hemisphere regions. The role of either hemisphere seems to be modulated by time elapsed after brain damage, and language processing domain. Further, increasing evidence suggests that intensive and specific language therapy may interact with brain plasticity to promote recovery in chronic and severe aphasia. PERSPECTIVE AND CONCLUSION: A better understanding of the factors determining recovery from aphasia will contribute to optimizing intervention and, consequently improve the quality of life of people with aphasia.

[Communication, language and the brain: from past anterior to near future]. / Communication, langage et cerveau : du passé antérieur au futur proche.

The goal of this article is to share some reflection on the astonishing evolution of the ideas in communication neuroscience and neurolinguistics over the last 30 years, since the founding of the société de neuropsychologie de langue française. in particular, a number of conceptual and methodological advancements have characterized this period, many of which have been lead or heavily contributed by french-speaking research groups in that field. among the advances discussed, are (a) the widening to discourse and pragmatic components of the concept of language, as well as the theoretical and clinical implication of this conceptual extension, (b) the unique contribution of anatomical and functional neuroimaging, (c) the massive impact of the cognitive revolution on theoretical frameworks of language components, and its influence on therapy, (d) the disappearance and the re-appearance of the brain in the main stream research on language over this period, (e) the new perspectives offered though attention put on social aspects of language and the social participation of the individual with language disorders, (f) the emergence of a genuine science of aphasia rehabilitation, and (g) the rediscovery of inter-individual characteristics both genetically- and environmentally- determined. The authors then risk themselves in trying to envision what could characterize the evolution in the field for the next 30 years. Though perilous, this speculative exercise allowed to pinpoint to a number of anticipated advancements including (a) a probable reconciliation between cognitive and connectionist models to the benefit of both visions, (b) an increased contribution of social and emotional neurosciences, (c) some inescapable technological advancements, including light portable neuroimaging devices which will allow to study the neurobiological bases of communication in natural contexts, (d) the integration between communication and aging in cognitive neuroscience and (e) the development of new research fields at some unexpected cross-roads (e.g., physical activity and communication ?) as well as the description of new types of aphasia (e.g., towards a chat aphasia !). Taken together, the advancements made over the 30 last years, and the perspective of future development, confirms the premier role of cognitive neuroscience of language and neurolinguistics in setting the pace through innovative approaches that allow unveiling the mysteries of the mutual relationships between brain and cognition.

[The impact of lesions in the right hemisphere on linguistic skills: theoretical and clinical perspectives]. / Impacto de las lesiones del hemisferio derecho sobre las habilidades lingüísticas: perspectivas teórica y clínica.

INTRODUCTION: A lesion of the right hemisphere of right-handers can result in verbal communication impairments. The recent development of theoretical frameworks with regard to discourse and pragmatic abilities, among others, now allows us to recognize and describe these impairments. AIM: To offer an overview of the verbal communication deficits that can be found in right-hemisphere-damaged individuals. These deficits can interfere, at different levels, with prosody, the semantic processing of words and discourse and pragmatic abilities. DEVELOPMENT: Such impairments appear to be present in about half of right-hemisphere-damaged patients and, when present, can result in different clinical profiles. These deficits raise the question of their labeling and their relationship with aphasia. CONCLUSIONS: Given the evolution of the concept of language and the universal definition of aphasia, it is proposed that these deficits correspond to another manifestation of aphasia, thus challenging the idea that they are of a 'non-aphasic' nature.

Impacto de las lesiones del hemisferio derecho sobre las habilidades lingüísticas: perspectivas teórica y clínica / The impact of lesion in the right hemisphere on linguistic skills: theoretical and clinical perspectives

Una lesión en el hemisferio derecho (HD) en pacientes diestros puede provocar alteraciones de lacomunicación verbal. El reciente desarrollo de marcos teóricos centrados en las habilidades discursivas y pragmáticas ha permitido un mejor reconocimiento y descripción de estas alteraciones. Objetivo. Ofrecer un panorama sobre los déficit decomunicación verbal que pueden registrarse en pacientes con lesiones del HD. Desarrollo. Dichos déficit pueden interferir, de manera diferencial, en la prosodia, el procesamiento semántico de las palabras y/o en las habilidades discursivas y pragmáticas.Se calcula que las dificultades pueden estar presentes en la mitad de los lesionados derechos y, en estos casos, dan lugar a perfiles clínicos diferentes. Hablar de lesionados derechos conlleva una discusión no sólo acerca del etiquetado, sino que, además, pone en cuestión las relaciones de estas alteraciones con las afasias. Conclusiones. Dada la evolución del concepto de lenguaje y la definición universal de afasia, proponemos que los daños resultantes de una lesión en el HD pueden considerarse como parte de las afasias. Esto constituye un desafío a la idea de que son déficit de naturaleza no afásica

A lesion of the right hemisphere of right-handers can result in verbal communication impairments.The recent development of theoretical frameworks with regard to discourse and pragmatic abilities, among others, now allows us to recognize and describe these impairments. Aim. To offer an overview of the verbal communication deficits that can befound in right-hemisphere-damaged individuals. These deficits can interfere, at different levels, with prosody, the semantic processing of words and discourse and pragmatic abilities. Development. Such impairments appear to be present in about halfof right-hemisphere-damaged patients and, when present, can result in different clinical profiles. These deficits raise the question of their labeling and their relationship with aphasia. Conclusions. Given the evolution of the concept of languageand the universal definition of aphasia, it is proposed that these deficits correspond to another manifestation of aphasia, thus challenging the idea that they are of a 'non-aphasic' nature