Med.Sci 532

Structure-Function

Aphasia is defined by Websters Dictionary as a "loss or impairment of the power to use or comprehend words usually resulting from brain damage." 

In most people the Broca's area is in the lower part of the left  frontal lobe.  It is one of the main language areas in the cerebral cortex because it controls the motor aspects of speech.  Persons with a Broca aphasia can usually understand what words mean, but have trouble performing the motor or output aspects of speech.  Thus, other names for this disorder are 'expressive' and 'motor' aphasia. Depending on the severity of the lesion to Broca's area, the symptoms can range from the mildest type (cortical dysarthria) with intact comprehension and the ability to communicate through writing to a complete loss of speaking out loud.

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References

Broca, Paul

1824-1880