Title : Brain gamma activity changes in response to proper name anomia therapy: A MEG study
Abstract:
Objectives: Proper name anomia is a common language deficit observed in patients with dementia, impacting their ability to recall and retrieve names of familiar people. This study investigates the neural changes associated with a 6-week proper name anomia therapy program in patients diagnosed with dementia using magnetoencephalography (MEG).
Methods: Thirteen patients diagnosed with mild to moderate dementia and exhibiting proper name anomia were enrolled in this prospective intervention study. The participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessments, including language and memory evaluations, to confirm the presence of proper name anomia and establish a baseline level of cognitive function.
Following the baseline assessment, patients underwent a structured 6-week proper name anomia therapy program, consisting of personalized name training, audio cueing, and spaced retrieval techniques. During the intervention period, participants received weekly therapy sessions focused on recalling names of familiar people. MEG recordings were obtained at two time points: pre-therapy (baseline), post-therapy (immediately after the 6-week intervention). MEG recordings were obtained during proper name retrieval tasks, with patients recalling both trained and untrained proper names.
Results: Results revealed gamma activity changes in response to therapy for both trained and untrained proper names. Patients demonstrated increased/decreased gamma activity in the left temporal pole during retrieval of both trained and untrained items following therapy, suggesting enhanced neural synchronization and network connectivity associated with name retrieval. Interestingly, the gamma activity changes were more pronounced for trained proper names compared to untrained items. Trained proper names exhibited a more substantial increase in gamma activity during retrieval tasks, indicating that therapy-induced neuroplastic changes were particularly effective in enhancing the processing of specifically targeted names. Furthermore, improvements in proper name retrieval performance were more evident for trained items. Patients demonstrated a higher accuracy and reduced response latency when recalling trained proper names, indicating the effectiveness of the therapy in facilitating targeted name retrieval.
In contrast, untrained proper names showed a more moderate improvement in retrieval accuracy and response latency, which correlated with relatively smaller gamma activity changes in comparison to trained items. These findings suggest that the proper name anomia therapy led to global gamma activity changes associated with language processing, but with a more significant impact on the neural processing of trained items. The results emphasize the importance of personalized training and targeted interventions to optimize therapy outcomes in patients with dementia.
In conclusion: This MEG study sheds light on the differential neural mechanisms underlying proper name anomia therapy in patients with dementia. The observed gamma activity changes in trained and untrained proper names provide valuable insights into the specificity and efficacy of the therapy, highlighting the potential for tailored interventions in addressing language deficits in dementia populations. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of therapy and to investigate other neurophysiological markers associated with proper name retrieval in dementia patients.
