Wolfgang Grodd

Publications (275) View all

• Article: Neural correlates of irony comprehension: the role of schizotypal personality traits.

  A M Rapp, D E Mutschler, B Wild, M Erb, I Lengsfeld, R Saur, W Grodd
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  ABSTRACT: To detect that a conversational turn is intended to be ironic is a difficult challenge in everyday language comprehension. Most authors suggested a theory of mind deficit is crucial for irony comprehension deficits in psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia; however, the underlying pathophysiology and neurobiology are unknown and recent research highlights the possible role of language comprehension abnormalities. Fifteen female right-handed subjects completed personality testing as well as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and neuropsychology. Subjects were recruited from the general population. No subject had a lifetime history of relevant psychiatric disorder; however, subjects differed in their score on the German version of the schizotypal personality questionnaire (SPQ). During fMRI scans, the subjects silently read 44 short text vignettes that ended in either an ironic or a literal statement. Imaging was performed using a 3 T Siemens scanner. The influence of schizotypy on brain activation was investigated by using an SPM5 regression analysis with the SPQ total score and the SPQ cognitive-perceptual score as regressors. Reading ironic in contrast to literal sentences activated a bilateral network including left medial prefrontal and left inferior parietal gyri. During reading of ironic sentences, brain activation in the middle temporal gyrus of both hemispheres showed a significant negative association with the SPQ total score and the SPQ cognitive-perceptual score. Significant positive correlation with the SPQ total score was present in the left inferior frontal gyrus. We conclude schizotypal personality traits are associated with a dysfunctional lateral temporal language rather than a theory of mind network.
  Brain and Language 04/2010; 113(1):1-12. · 3.12 Impact Factor
• Article: Metachromatic leukodystrophy: a scoring system for brain MR imaging observations.

  F Eichler, W Grodd, E Grant, M Sessa, A Biffi, A Bley, A Kohlschuetter, D J Loes, I Kraegeloh-Mann
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  ABSTRACT: Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a devastating demyelinating disease for which novel therapies are being tested. We hypothesized that MR imaging of brain lesion involvement in MLD could be quantified along a scale. Thirty-four brain MR images in 28 patients with proved biochemical and genetic defects for MLD were reviewed: 10 patients with late infantile, 16 patients with juvenile, and 2 patients with adult MLD. All MR images were reviewed by experienced neuroradiologists and neurologists (2 readers in Germany, 2 readers in the United States) for global disease burden, as seen on the T2 and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. A visual scoring method was based on a point system (range, 0-34) derived from the location of white matter involvement and the presence of global atrophy, analogous to the scoring system developed for adrenoleukodystrophy. The readers were blinded to the neurologic findings. Thirty-three of 34 MR images showed confluent T2 hyperintensities of white matter. The inter-rater reliability coefficient was 0.988. Scores between readers were within 2 points of each other. Serial MR imaging studies in 6 patients showed significant progressive disease in 3 patients (initial score average, 4; mean follow-up, 24.3) and no change or 1 point progression in 3 patients (initial score average, 12; mean follow-up, 12.66). Projection fibers and the cerebellum tended to be involved only in advanced stages of disease. The MLD MR severity scoring method can be used to provide a measure of brain MR imaging involvement in MLD patients.
  American Journal of Neuroradiology 10/2009; 30(10):1893-7. · 2.93 Impact Factor
• Article: (Re-)organization of basal ganglia in congenital hemiparesis with ipsilateral cortico-spinal projections.

  H Juenger, W Grodd, I Krägeloh-Mann, M Staudt
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  ABSTRACT: In congenital hemiparesis after pre- or perinatally acquired unilateral brain lesions, many patients control their paretic hand via ipsilateral cortico-spinal projections from the contralesional hemisphere. In order to clarify the pattern of basal ganglia activation in case of such a shift of the primary motor cortical representation (M1) of the paretic hand to the contralesional hemisphere, fMRI was performed in eight patients with congenital hemiparesis due to unilateral periventricular white matter lesions and ipsilateral corticospinal projections to the paretic hand (as determined by focal transcranial magnetic stimulation). FMRI during active movements of the paretic hand yielded basal ganglia activation in the ipsilateral (=contralesional) hemisphere, but not in the contralateral (lesioned) hemisphere. Thus, (re-)organization in congenital hemiparesis with ipsilateral cortico-spinal projections includes, in addition to the ipsilateral primary motor cortex (M1), also the ipsilateral basal ganglia - in contrast to the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), which is typically preserved in the affected hemisphere.
  Neuropediatrics 11/2008; 39(5):252-8. · 0.94 Impact Factor
• Article: Cortical processing of residual ano-rectal sensation in patients with spinal cord injury: an fMRI study.

  B M Wietek, C H Baron, M Erb, H Hinninghofen, A Badtke, H-P Kaps, W Grodd, P Enck
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  ABSTRACT: Eleven paraplegic patients with complete traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCI) [according to American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) criteria] at different levels (Th3-L3) were investigated during non-painful stimulation of the distal rectum and anal canal, using event related functional magnetic resonance imaging. Although a complete lesion was clinically diagnosed in all, four of them experienced reproducible sensations during anal and/or rectal stimulation. In six patients, individual data analysis revealed significant activation in the right secondary somatosensory cortex SII, the posterior cingular gyrus, the prefrontal cortex, and the left posterior cerebellar lobe during either anal or rectal stimulation or both. A Region of interest analysis using a data mask from healthy controls confirmed that SCI patients demonstrate cortical activation in areas similar to those activated in healthy volunteers, but to a less extensive degree. This supports the notion that the diagnosis of complete spinal cord transsection by ASIA criteria alone may be insufficient for assessment of 'completeness' of cord lesions, and that visceral sensitivity testing may be required in addition.
  Neurogastroenterology and Motility 06/2008; 20(5):488-97. · 3.41 Impact Factor
• Article: Reorganization of the cerebro-cerebellar network of language production in patients with congenital left-hemispheric brain lesions.

  K Lidzba, M Wilke, M Staudt, I Krägeloh-Mann, W Grodd
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  ABSTRACT: Patients with congenital lesions of the left cerebral hemisphere may reorganize language functions into the right hemisphere. In these patients, language production is represented homotopically to the left-hemispheric language areas. We studied cerebellar activation in five patients with congenital lesions of the left cerebral hemisphere to assess if the language network is reorganized completely in these patients, i.e. including also cerebellar language functions. As compared to a group of controls matched for age, sex, and verbal IQ, the patients recruited an area not in the right but in the left cerebellar hemisphere. The extent of laterality of the cerebellar activation correlated significantly with the laterality of the frontal activation. We suggest that the developing brain reacts to early focal lesions in the left hemisphere with a mirror-image organization of the entire cerebro-cerebellar network engaged in speech production.
  Brain and Language 01/2008; 106(3):204-10. · 3.12 Impact Factor