Question

When we have a Q&A with someone, the path in the brain goes as such: auditory cortex to Wernicke's area (to be comprehended) which then activates the Broca's area to initiate a motor reaction (so to answer the questions). So if someone asks questions, is not the arcuate fascicle taken into use? Doesn't the Wernicke's somehow need to tell Broca what to say? Or does it just stop at Wernicke's and then a new path is initiated from Broca's?

When someone with conduction aphasia is asked to repeat a word, let's say apple, they cannot as apparently this arcuate fascicle is necessary.

What is the difference with answering a question to repeating a word? Would the person be able to say I cannot repeat the word 'apple'? So it would technically be able to say the word 'apple'.

Answer 1

The pathway in the brain for a Q&A conversation involves the auditory cortex, Wernicke's area, and Broca's area. The arcuate fasciculus is a white matter tract that enables communication between these areas. Conduction aphasia can affect the ability to repeat words, but may not impair answering questions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The pathway of information in the brain during a Q&A conversation involves several areas, including the auditory cortex, Wernicke's area, and Broca's area. When someone asks a question, the auditory cortex processes the sound and sends it to Wernicke's area for comprehension. Then, the information is transmitted to Broca's area to initiate a motor response and formulate an answer.

The arcuate fasciculus is a white matter tract that connects Wernicke's area and Broca's area. Its primary function is to transmit information between these two regions, facilitating the coordination of understanding and speech production. In cases of conduction aphasia, where there is damage to the arcuate fasciculus, individuals may have difficulty repeating words or phrases.

Answering a question and repeating a word involve different processes. While conduction aphasia may affect a person's ability to faithfully repeat a word, they may still be able to answer a question using other language functions. Therefore, they may be able to communicate that they cannot repeat a specific word like 'apple,' but still be able to provide a response to a question.