Lesions to the posterior insular cortex cause dysarthria

Abstract

Background: Up to now, there are few systematic studies in a sufficient number of patients with lesions involving the insular cortex (IC) examining whether damage of the IC is directly related to dysarthria. Thus, this is the first study applying modern voxel-lesion behaviour mapping (VLBM) aimed to examine whether the IC is involved in dysarthria - and if so - which part of the IC is involved.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with acute stroke lesions affecting the IC and peri-insular region were investigated employing VLBM analysis.

Results: Present data indicated that dysarthria is associated with stroke lesions affecting the right- and left-sided posterior IC.

Conclusions: Owing to the known extensive spectrum of cortical and subcortical somatosensory and motor connections, it seems that the IC might be one region involved in the generation of speech motor execution.