Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: aphasia

  • When language fails: Artistic expression in primary progressive aphasia

    Barbara MajdowskaDublin, Ireland “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world,” claimed philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. But for aphasia patients, this is a problematic and frustrating statement. Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a neurological disorder characterized by advancing loss of language function. However, in contrast to other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease,…

  • Aphasia

    Tulsi PatelChicago, Illinois, United States Paint chips Plume of smoke Plume of feathers Peach pits Petty parrot Paris — In muddled speech dwells a world unknown,Where ordered words once danced, now overthrown.Broca’s realm, a twisted maze,Where language hides in veiled haze.The mind’s expression, bound and tied,An overpass collapsed, connections dried. Thoughts in motion, stammer and…

  • Broca’s Brains: A lesson in the importance of saving the history of neuroscience

    Richard BrownHalifax, NS, CanadaThalia Garvock-de MontbrunMontreal, QC, Canada Recent fires at the National Museum of Brazil and at the University of Cape Town in South Africa1,2 have shown the fragility of rare books, scientific records, photographs, and films. Descriptions of book burning by Richard Ovendon3 also highlight how easily historical records can be destroyed by…

  • Smetana, his music, his illness

    Bedřich (Frederic) Smetana was one of the major figures of nineteenth century European music. Regarded as the founder of the Czech national school of music, he composed The Bartered Bride opera and the symphonic poem “Má Vlast” (My Homeland) with its beloved Vlatava (The Moldau) melody. Like Ludwig van Beethoven, he composed exceptional music even…

  • Maurice Ravel’s neurologic disease

    The French composer Maurice Ravel appears to have suffered from a localized neurological disease that spared higher brain functions but interfered with the basic activities of living. In neurological parlance this translates itself into loss of the ability to speak (aphasia), write (agraphia), read (alexia), or carry out complex brain directed movements or tasks (apraxia).…

  • Immigrating to the in-between

    Maia EvronaMassachusetts, United States “But you have an accent. Where are you from originally?” I have learned to expect this question whenever I make a new acquaintance, whether the meeting occurs outside of the United States or in my home state of Massachusetts. There are few experiences more surreal than trying to convince a fellow…