[Role of the thalamus in subcortical aphasias]. / Le rôle du thalamus dans les aphasies sous-corticales.

ABSTRACT

27 cases of patients who presented language disorders of aphasic nature consecutive to a strictly subcortical lesion of vascular origin are reported. From a topographic point of view, the population is divided into 3 groups thalamic lesions (15 cases), striatal lesions (9 cases), isolated lesions of the white matter (3 cases). The results of the neurolinguistic analysis of the aphasia show a great symptomatological variety. Nevertheless, in spite of this apparent diversity, certain semiologic elements appear to be common to all of the observed linguistic profiles, no matter where the lesion is hypophonia, non fluent speech, verbal paraphasias, normal repetition, comprehension generally good. A discussion is proposed as to the specific part which certain structures, notably the thalamus, might play in the origin of these various disturbances.