INTRODUCTION Non-linguistic properties of speech are widely heterogeneous and require complex neurological integration. The association between white matter integrity and the severity of dysarthria was investigated in a group of patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS Thirty-six patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis completed a magnetic resonance imaging protocol inclusive of diffusion-weighted images. A clinical assessment of pneumo-phono-articulatory abilities was conducted for each patient, and a composite score of residual speech capacity was calculated. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics was carried out to model the potential association between residual speech capacity and microstructural properties of white matter (fractional anisotropy, mean and radial diffusivity). RESULTS A significant negative association was found between residual speech capacity and mean diffusivity in a large white matter cluster located in frontal, parietal and right temporal regions. These subcortical areas were characterised by pathological microstructural disruption, as revealed bypost hoc analyses. CONCLUSIONS Non-linguistic aspects of speech are associated with microstructural integrity of frontal, parietal and right temporal white matter in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Such mapping is consistent with the centres responsible of volitional control of speech and sensory feedback during non-linguistic speech production.

中文翻译：

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右额顶叶白质破坏导致肌萎缩侧索硬化症的语言障碍。

引言 语音的非语言特性具有广泛的异质性，需要复杂的神经整合。在一组诊断为肌萎缩侧索硬化 (ALS) 的患者中研究了白质完整性与构音障碍严重程度之间的关联。方法 诊断为肌萎缩侧索硬化的 36 名患者完成了包括弥散加权图像在内的磁共振成像协议。对每位患者进行了气声发音能力的临床评估，并计算了残余言语能力的综合评分。进行了基于区域的空间统计以模拟残余语音能力与白质微观结构特性（分数各向异性、平均和径向扩散率）之间的潜在关联。结果发现，在位于额叶、顶叶和右颞区的大白质簇中，残余言语能力与平均扩散率之间存在显着的负相关。正如事后分析所揭示的那样，这些皮层下区域的特征是病理性微观结构破坏。结论 言语的非语言方面与肌萎缩侧索硬化中额叶、顶叶和右颞叶白质的微观结构完整性有关。这种映射与在非语言语音产生期间负责语音和感官反馈的意志控制的中心是一致的。正如事后分析所揭示的那样，这些皮层下区域的特征是病理性微观结构破坏。结论 言语的非语言方面与肌萎缩侧索硬化中额叶、顶叶和右颞叶白质的微观结构完整性有关。这种映射与在非语言语音产生期间负责语音和感官反馈的意志控制的中心是一致的。正如事后分析所揭示的那样，这些皮层下区域的特征是病理性微观结构破坏。结论 言语的非语言方面与肌萎缩侧索硬化中额叶、顶叶和右颞叶白质的微观结构完整性有关。这种映射与在非语言语音产生期间负责语音和感官反馈的意志控制的中心是一致的。