Wernicke's Area: Historical Background

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What did Carl Wernicke identify as functions associated with the region of the brain now known as Wernicke's area?

Visual perception and spatial reasoning
Impaired motor function and sensory processing
Memory loss and cognitive decline
Impaired language comprehension and disrupted speech production (correct)

What did Wernicke find in the brain of one of the patients he examined?

Evidence of a cerebral infarct involving the middle third of the posterior superior temporal gyrus of the left hemisphere (correct)
Hemorrhage in the occipital lobe
Enlarged ventricles in the frontal lobe
Abnormal growth in the parietal lobe

What was the effect of the cerebral infarct on the patients Wernicke saw?

Very impaired language comprehension and disrupted speech production (correct)
Memory loss and disorientation
Auditory hallucinations and paranoia
Loss of motor coordination and visual acuity

Where did Wernicke reason that the affected area must be located in the brain?

Part of the auditory association cortex, close to the primary auditory cortex (D) Signup and view all the answers

What did Wernicke conclude about the affected area of the brain?

It must serve as a second 'center' for language in the left hemisphere (D) Signup and view all the answers

In addition to Wernicke's area, which other center for language in the left hemisphere was identified by Paul Broca?

Articulatory center in the frontal lobe (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the Wernicke area?

Managing speech comprehension (A) Signup and view all the answers

Where is the Wernicke area located in the brain?

Superior temporal gyrus (B) Signup and view all the answers

What type of aphasia results from damage to the Wernicke area?

Receptive aphasia (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the blood supply to the Wernicke area?

Middle cerebral artery (C) Signup and view all the answers

What syndrome is most commonly associated with damage to the Wernicke area?

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (B) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to auditory comprehension in patients with Wernicke aphasia?

Auditory incomprehension (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does damage to the Wernicke area affect a patient's speech?

Fluent speech with intact meaning (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the surgical consideration related to the temporal lobe due to its involvement in language and memory?

Surgery should be avoided due to high risks (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common cause of damage to the Wernicke area?

Chronic alcoholism (D) Signup and view all the answers

What part of the brain is commonly affected by Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome?

Temporal lobe (C) Signup and view all the answers

Wernicke's Area

The region of the brain, now known as Wernicke's area, is responsible for language comprehension and speech production.

Cerebral Infarct in Wernicke's Area

Wernicke identified a cerebral infarct in the posterior superior temporal gyrus of the left hemisphere in a patient with impaired language comprehension and disrupted speech production.

Location of Wernicke's Area

The affected area in Wernicke's area is located in the auditory association cortex, close to the primary auditory cortex, suggesting its role in processing auditory information related to language.

Wernicke's Center for Language

Wernicke concluded that the affected area must serve as a 'center' for language in the left hemisphere, contributing to the understanding of speech.