Compare and contrast two different forms of aphasia. What part of the brain is specifically affected by each form and how would this affect the mental lexicon?
ANSWER
Two common forms of aphasia are Broca’s aphasia and Wernicke’s aphasia. These two types of aphasia are caused by damage to different parts of the brain, and they have different effects on the mental lexicon.
**Broca’s aphasia** is also known as nonfluent aphasia. It is caused by damage to Broca’s area, which is located in the frontal lobe of the brain. Broca’s area is involved in speech production.
People with Broca’s aphasia have difficulty producing fluent speech. They may have difficulty finding the right words, and their speech may be slow and halting. Their comprehension of speech is typically relatively good.
The mental lexicon in Broca’s aphasia is typically intact. However, people with Broca’s aphasia may have difficulty accessing their lexicon due to the damage to Broca’s area. This can lead to difficulty producing speech, even though the person knows what they want to say.
**Wernicke’s aphasia** is also known as fluent aphasia. It is caused by damage to Wernicke’s area, which is located in the temporal lobe of the brain. Wernicke’s area is involved in language comprehension and production.
People with Wernicke’s aphasia have difficulty comprehending and producing speech. They may speak fluently, but their speech may be nonsensical or difficult to understand. They may also have difficulty understanding what others are saying.
The mental lexicon in Wernicke’s aphasia is typically impaired. This is because Wernicke’s area is involved in the storage and retrieval of words. People with Wernicke’s aphasia may have difficulty accessing their lexicon, or they may have difficulty understanding the meaning of words.
**Comparison and Contrast of Broca’s Aphasia and Wernicke’s Aphasia**
| Characteristic | Broca’s Aphasia | Wernicke’s Aphasia |
|—|—|—|
| Speech production | Nonfluent | Fluent |
| Speech comprehension | Relatively good | Impaired |
| Mental lexicon | Intact, but difficulty accessing | Impaired |
| Part of brain affected | Broca’s area in frontal lobe | Wernicke’s area in temporal lobe |
**How Broca’s Aphasia and Wernicke’s Aphasia Affect the Mental Lexicon**
The mental lexicon is a network of words and their meanings that is stored in the brain. It is used to produce and understand language.
In Broca’s aphasia, the mental lexicon is typically intact. However, people with Broca’s aphasia may have difficulty accessing their lexicon due to the damage to Broca’s area. This can lead to difficulty producing speech, even though the person knows what they want to say.
In Wernicke’s aphasia, the mental lexicon is typically impaired. This is because Wernicke’s area is involved in the storage and retrieval of words. People with Wernicke’s aphasia may have difficulty accessing their lexicon, or they may have difficulty understanding the meaning of words.
For example, a person with Broca’s aphasia might be able to think of the word “dog” but have difficulty saying it. A person with Wernicke’s aphasia might say the word “dog” but not know what it means.
Both Broca’s aphasia and Wernicke’s aphasia can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to communicate. However, with appropriate therapy, many people with aphasia are able to improve their communication skills.
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