Beyond Broca's and Wernicke's: Functional Mapping of Ancillary Language Centers Prior to Brain Tumor Surgery

Authors

Ashley Lawrence, Center for Neuropsychological Services, University of New Mexico, MSC 10 5530 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-5001, USAFollow
Michael Carvajal, Center for Neuropsychological Services, University of New Mexico, MSC 10 5530 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-5001, USAFollow
Jacob Ormsby, Department of Radiology, University of New Mexico, MSC 10 5530 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-5001, USAFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-25-2023

Abstract

Functional MRI is a well-established tool used for pre-surgical planning to help the neurosurgeon have a roadmap of critical functional areas that should be avoided, if possible, during surgery to minimize morbidity for patients with brain tumors (though this also has applications for surgical resection of epileptogenic tissue and vascular lesions). This article reviews the locations of secondary language centers within the brain along with imaging findings to help improve our confidence in our knowledge on language lateralization. Brief overviews of these language centers and their contributions to the language networks will be discussed. These language centers include primary language centers of "Broca's Area" and "Wernicke's Area". However, there are multiple secondary language centers such as the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), frontal eye fields, pre- supplemental motor area (pre-SMA), Basal Temporal Language Area (BTLA), along with other areas of activation. Knowing these foci helps to increase self-assurance when discussing the nature of laterality with the neurosurgeon. By knowing secondary language centers for language lateralization, via fMRI, one can feel confident on providing neurosurgeon colleagues with appropriate information on the laterality of language in preparation for surgery.

Publication Title

Tomography

ISSN

2379-139X

Volume

9

Issue

4

First Page

1254

Last Page

1275

DOI

10.3390/tomography9040100

Recommended Citation

Lawrence A, Carvajal M, Ormsby J. Beyond Broca's and Wernicke's: Functional Mapping of Ancillary Language Centers Prior to Brain Tumor Surgery. Tomography. 2023 Jun 25;9(4):1254-1275. doi: 10.3390/tomography9040100. PMID: 37489468; PMCID: PMC10366753.