Verbal fluency declines after pallidotomy: an interaction between task and lesion laterality

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Verbal fluency declines are commonly reported after pallidotomy in patients with Parkinson's disease. However, it is not clear whether there is an interaction between side of surgery and task format (lexical vs. semantic) or whether error rates (perseverations, intrusions, rule violations) increase after surgery. This study examined verbal fluency before and approximately 4 months after unilateral pallidotomy. The left and right pallidotomy groups were matched on key demographic, cognitive, and disease variables. Pallidotomy resulted in a decline in lexical but not semantic verbal fluency, and this decline was most evident in the left-sided surgery group. Error rates (perseverations, intrusions, and rule violations) were not affected by pallidotomy. Findings support the role of left frontal-basal ganglionic circuits in word retrieval processes and/or lexical search and access.

Medical Subject Headings

Aged; Female; Functional Laterality; Globus Pallidus (surgery); Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Neurosurgical Procedures (adverse effects, methods); Parkinson Disease (psychology, surgery); Speech Disorders (diagnosis, etiology); Task Performance and Analysis; Verbal Behavior

Publication Date

1-1-2003

Publication Title

Applied neuropsychology

ISSN

0908-4282

Volume

10

Issue

2

First Page

69

Last Page

75

PubMed ID

12788681

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1207/S15324826AN1002_02

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