Infiltration of the basal ganglia by brain tumors is associated with the development of co-dominant language function on fMRI Journal Article


Authors: Shaw, K.; Brennan, N.; Woo, K.; Zhang, Z.; Young, R.; Peck, K.; Holodny, A.
Article Title: Infiltration of the basal ganglia by brain tumors is associated with the development of co-dominant language function on fMRI
Abstract: Studies have shown that some patients with left-hemispheric brain tumors have an increased propensity for developing right-sided language support. However, the precise trigger for establishing co-dominant language function in brain tumor patients remains unknown. We analyzed the MR scans of patients with left-hemispheric tumors and either co-dominant (n = 35) or left-hemisphere dominant (n = 35) language function on fMRI to investigate anatomical factors influencing hemispheric language dominance. Of eleven neuroanatomical areas evaluated for tumor involvement, the basal ganglia was significantly correlated with co-dominant language function (p < 0.001). Moreover, among patients whose tumors invaded the basal ganglia, those with language co-dominance performed significantly better on the Boston Naming Test, a clinical measure of aphasia, compared to their left-lateralized counterparts (56.5 versus 36.5, p = 0.025). While further studies are needed to elucidate the role of the basal ganglia in establishing co-dominance, our results suggest that reactive co-dominance may afford a behavioral advantage to patients with left-hemispheric tumors. © 2016 Elsevier Inc.
Keywords: functional magnetic resonance imaging; language laterality; brain tumors; basal ganglia; boston naming test; co-dominance
Journal Title: Brain and Language
Volume: 155-156
ISSN: 0093-934X
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 2016-04-01
Start Page: 44
End Page: 48
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2016.04.002
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 27108246
PMCID: PMC4868667
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 May 2016 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Zhigang Zhang
    427 Zhang
  2. Robert J Young
    228 Young
  3. Nicole Brennan
    44 Brennan
  4. Kyung Peck
    116 Peck
  5. Andrei Holodny
    206 Holodny
  6. Kaitlin Marie Woo
    101 Woo
  7. Katharina Stephanie Shaw
    6 Shaw