The Problem of Repetition: A Study of “Conduction” Aphasia and the “Isolation” Syndrome

This work explains conduction aphasia and the isolation syndrome from the standpoint of a more dynamic theory of language organization, which has implications for understanding of anatomical relationships "between" the speech areas.

Abstract

The classical view of conduction aphasia and the isolation syndrome holds that there is, respectively, preferential damage to, or sparing of, a (repetition) pathway between the posterior and anterior speech areas. This concept is deeply entrenched in neurological thinking, but is supported neither by clinical nor pathological evidence. These two disorders are explained from the standpoint of a more dynamic theory of language organization. This new approach has implications for our understanding of anatomical relationships "between" the speech areas.