Influence of physical impairment on language functions. Version 1.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How does focal physical impairment influence language function?
IRAS ID
149497
Contact name
Thomas Bak
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinbugh
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
How does focal physical impairment influence language functions?
The aim of this study is to explore how physical impairment (e.g hand weakness) affects knowledge of verbs that denote movement (e.g writing). Motor neurone disease (MND) is a neurodegenerative disease that results in muscle weakness and wasting. It is caused by a selective degeneration of the areas of the brain involved in movement.
A specific language deficit in processing verbs that relate to actions has been found in some MND patients. Processing action-verbs activate areas of the brain involved in movement. These may be damaged in MND, and therefore it is proposed that MND patients with a physical impairment to a specific body region (e.g. hand) will be impaired at processing verbs that relate to that same region (e.g writing).
For this study, the effect of physical disability on action-verb processing will be assessed in patients with MND, as well as patients with a movement disorder caused by an injury to the peripheral nerves or muscles that leave the movement areas of the brain intact. The inclusion of peripheral nerve injury patients will allow for the exploration of whether damage to the movement areas of the brain is a necessary requirement for an action-verb deficit or whether movement problems alone can cause such impairment.
60 MND patients, 40 patients with peripheral nerve injury, and 20 healthy controls will undertake this study which includes two experimental tasks that assess the participants knowledge and memory for verbs and nouns. Participants will also complete questionnaires and cognitive screening tests which assess a variety of cognitive abilities, such as memory, language and problem solving. The study will last approximately 2 hours. Healthy participants will undergo the assessment at the University of Edinburgh. Patients can be assessed at the University of Edinburgh or at home.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
14/SS/1073
Date of REC Opinion
24 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion