Neural correlates of recovery from Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome

Cerebral reorganization during recovery after stroke has been investigated using functional imaging in patients with subcortical motor stroke. The functional correlates of recovery from anarthria, however, are yet unknown. A 48-year-old male patient recovering from complete anarthria after unilateral right-sided subcortical hemorrhagic stroke is described. The main outcome measures included clinical and neuroimaging data at three different time points (at the onset of symptoms, after 6 weeks and after 6 months). At 6 weeks, increased activations in the right and left frontal operculum were found and were followed by a trend towards normalization of the activation pattern at 6 months. These results suggest a role of anterior opercular regions in recovery from anarthria after subcortical stroke. Moreover, complete recovery is possible after such lesions.