# Functional reorganization of the language and domain-general multiple demand systems in aphasia

> **NIH NIH R01** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · 2021 · $624,183

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Aphasia affects approximately one third of stroke survivors (Berthier, 2005), and between 30 and 43% of these
remain severely affected in the long term (e.g. (Bakheit et al., 2007). With a rising burden of stroke, it is
increasingly important to develop effective and individualized treatment for patients with aphasia. An
understanding of the brain mechanisms that underlie plasticity and recovery is therefore essential. However, the
problem to solve is far from trivial given that language impairment and recovery after stroke is impacted by many
factors including premorbid differences in brain organization, size and site of lesion, and post-stroke behaviors.
In the proposed work, we examine the brain regions that are capable of subserving language recovery. While
the prevailing hypothesis is that language recovery is mediated by the regions of the fronto-temporal network –
either the ipsilesional left-hemisphere (LH) regions or the homologous right-hemisphere (RH) regions, we
examine a novel hypothesis that a domain-general fronto-parietal multiple demand (MD) network may also
mediate language recovery in patients with aphasia (PWA). We propose to evaluate three possible changes in
the functional architecture of the MD and language networks: (i) response magnitude in each network during
language processing; (ii) intra-network synchronization among MD regions, and among language regions; and
(iii) across-network synchronization between MD and language regions. We will first characterize post-stroke
differences in each measure by comparing 40 chronic PWA and 40 age-matched controls. Then, we will identify
individual differences in neural signatures that co-vary with differences in language performance on standard
behavioral tests. Finally, we will assess the causal contribution of the MD network to language recovery in a
subset of 40 PWA tested at two time points, both in fMRI and behavioral tasks.
This work is innovative because it uses a suite of methodological tools to facilitate localize language processing
in PWA by accounting for variability in lesion site, volume and anatomy-function mapping. Further, we examine
a subset of patients at two time points, allowing a within group comparison of changes in the MD network over
time and as a function of recovery. A key outcome of this project is the development of a comprehensive
explanation for mechanisms of neuroplasticity and reorganization of language function in aphasia. Another
outcome of the project is the delineation of neural phenotypes – including in the acute stage – that explain the
variability in linguistic and cognitive performance of PWA while accounting for variability in anatomy-function
mapping. A third important outcome will be to pave the way for new behavioral and neuro-stimulation therapies
that capitalize on the engagement of the MD network in the service of language recovery. Establishing the
potential recruitment of non-language regions (i.e., multiple demand ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10134926
- **Project number:** 5R01DC016950-03
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS)
- **Principal Investigator:** Evelina Fedorenko
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $624,183
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10134926

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10134926, Functional reorganization of the language and domain-general multiple demand systems in aphasia (5R01DC016950-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10134926. Licensed CC0.

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