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Action-verb processing in Parkinson’s disease: new pathways for motor–language coupling

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Abstract

Recent studies suggest that action-verb processing is particularly affected in early stage Parkinson’s disease (PD), highlighting the potential role of subcortical areas in language processing and in the semantic integration of actions. However, this disorder-related language impairment is frequently unrecognized by clinicians and often remains untreated. Early detection of action-language processing deficits could be critical for diagnosing and developing treatment strategies for PD. In this article, we review how action-verb processing is affected in PD and propose a model in which multiple and parallel frontotemporal circuits between the cortex and the basal ganglia provide the anatomic substrate for supporting action-language processing. We hypothesize that contextual coupling of action-language networks are partially dependent on cortical–subcortical integration, and not only on somatotopic motor cortical organization or in a mirror neuron system. This hypothesis is supported by both experimental and clinical evidence. Then, we identify further research steps that would help to determine the reliability of action-language impairments as an early marker of PD. Finally, theoretical implications for clinical assessment and for models of action-language interaction (action–perception cycle theories, mirror system models of language, and embodied cognition approaches to language) are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by grants from COLCIENCIAS (1115-545-31374, contract: 392), CONICET, FONDECYT (1130920) and INECO Foundation. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of those grants. Authors acknowledge two anonymous reviewers for their detailed and constructive comments that greatly improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive Neurology (INECO), Favaloro University, Pacheco de Melo 1860, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Juan Felipe Cardona, Oscar Gershanik, Carlos Gelormini-Lezama, Lucila Kargieman, Lucia Amoruso, Facundo Manes & Agustín Ibáñez

  2. National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Juan Felipe Cardona, Oscar Gershanik, Carlos Gelormini-Lezama, Lucila Kargieman, Lucia Amoruso & Agustín Ibáñez

  3. School of Psychology, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Juan Felipe Cardona

  4. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA

    Alexander Lee Houck

  5. School of Medicine, University of Caldas, Manizales, Colombia

    Sebastian Cardona

  6. Neuroscience Research Programme, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia

    Natalia Trujillo

  7. Center for Basic Research in Psychology (CIBPsi) of the UdelaR, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Analía Arévalo

  8. Laboratory of Cognitive and Social Neuroscience, Diego Portales University, Santiago, Chile

    Agustín Ibáñez

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  1. Juan Felipe Cardona
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  2. Oscar Gershanik
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  3. Carlos Gelormini-Lezama
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  4. Alexander Lee Houck
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  5. Sebastian Cardona
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  6. Lucila Kargieman
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  7. Natalia Trujillo
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  9. Lucia Amoruso
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  10. Facundo Manes
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  11. Agustín Ibáñez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Agustín Ibáñez.

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Cardona, J.F., Gershanik, O., Gelormini-Lezama, C. et al. Action-verb processing in Parkinson’s disease: new pathways for motor–language coupling. Brain Struct Funct 218, 1355–1373 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-013-0510-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-013-0510-1

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