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Multiple Choice

Which aphasia is described as non-fluent, with intact comprehension and reading, but impaired writing and repetition, and is associated with a left posterior frontal lesion?

This pattern represents expressive (Broca's) aphasia, arising from damage to the left posterior frontal language area. Speech is non-fluent and effortful, often abbreviated or telegraphic, while comprehension is comparatively preserved, and reading comprehension is typically intact. Writing is impaired because the same neural circuits that plan and produce speech are disrupted, and repetition is affected for the same reason—the ability to sequence and reproduce language is compromised. The lesion location fits well with Broca’s area in the left posterior frontal region. Other aphasias don’t match as neatly: Wernicke’s aphasia is fluent but with poor comprehension; global aphasia involves widespread losses of comprehension and production; mixed transcortical aphasia has preserved repetition despite other deficits.

This pattern represents expressive (Broca's) aphasia, arising from damage to the left posterior frontal language area. Speech is non-fluent and effortful, often abbreviated or telegraphic, while comprehension is comparatively preserved, and reading comprehension is typically intact. Writing is impaired because the same neural circuits that plan and produce speech are disrupted, and repetition is affected for the same reason—the ability to sequence and reproduce language is compromised. The lesion location fits well with Broca’s area in the left posterior frontal region. Other aphasias don’t match as neatly: Wernicke’s aphasia is fluent but with poor comprehension; global aphasia involves widespread losses of comprehension and production; mixed transcortical aphasia has preserved repetition despite other deficits.