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Multiple Choice

Which aphasia is described as having preserved repetition and echolalia, often associated with watershed infarction?

Preserved repetition with echolalia points to transcortical motor aphasia. In this pattern, speech is nonfluent and effortful, but comprehension is relatively intact, and the ability to repeat spoken language is retained. Echolalia can occur as the patient echo-repeats words or phrases heard from others. This syndrome is often linked to watershed infarcts between the anterior and middle cerebral arteries, which disrupt the frontal initiation areas (like the supplementary motor area) without damaging the core language centers themselves (Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas). Because the language network responsible for repetition remains intact, repetition is preserved even though spontaneous speech is limited. This contrasts with Broca's aphasia, where repetition is impaired; Wernicke's aphasia, where comprehension is poor; and global aphasia, where multiple language functions are severely impaired.

Preserved repetition with echolalia points to transcortical motor aphasia. In this pattern, speech is nonfluent and effortful, but comprehension is relatively intact, and the ability to repeat spoken language is retained. Echolalia can occur as the patient echo-repeats words or phrases heard from others. This syndrome is often linked to watershed infarcts between the anterior and middle cerebral arteries, which disrupt the frontal initiation areas (like the supplementary motor area) without damaging the core language centers themselves (Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas). Because the language network responsible for repetition remains intact, repetition is preserved even though spontaneous speech is limited. This contrasts with Broca's aphasia, where repetition is impaired; Wernicke's aphasia, where comprehension is poor; and global aphasia, where multiple language functions are severely impaired.