1) In 1998, the narrator's friend "T" fell from a third floor balcony in Mexico City, suffering fractures and crushing his left cranium. This caused the loss of his left optic nerve and lesions in his left frontal lobe. 2) "T" was diagnosed with Broca's aphasia after months of hospitalization and surgery. This caused halting, effortful speech. He also had slower speech comprehension and was unable to read. 3) The course helped explain "T's" permanent symptoms, like restricted left visual field and difficulty with motor skills and eye placement, were likely caused by his severe brain injury and edema. It also helped understand how the brain can rewire and memory

1. The Story of T
Living with Aphasia
By Roberto Corona
Class of 2014

2. This presentation has two purposes:
o To comply with the final project required in the course “Understanding the
Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life” by The University of Chicago,
through Coursera and conducted by Prof. Peggy Mason.
o To serve as a tribute to my friend “T” whose life changed dramatically after
the accident that is described here.
Sadly, at the time of “T”´s ordeal, clear information was not as easily
available as it is nowadays thanks to the internet.

3. Lectures from the course directly related to this presentation
Week 3 Module 2.6 Forebrain
2.7 Visual path
2.8 Diagnosing lessions
Week 4 Module 1.1 Intracranial pressure
4.1 Mass effect
4.2 Bulkheads
Week 10 Module 2.1 Types of memory
4.1 Introduction to language
4.2 Aphasias

4. In 1998, my friend “T” fell from a 3rd. floor in
Mexico City. Besides several fractures in limbs and
ribs, he crushed the left side of his cranium, resulting
in the loss of the LEFT OPTIC NERVE which was
irreparably severed, and significant lesions in the
LEFT FRONTAL LOBE.
Sadly, “T” passed away in 2006 and during his
ordeal, family and friends could only guess on the
conditions he experienced, as precise information
was scarce and the medical staff, either from public
hospitals or private practice were unable, or unwilling,
to provide clear, down to earth details which could
help us understand the long term repercussions of his
lesions.

5. During months in hospitals,
unconscious and with a very swollen
brain, ”T” underwent several surgeries.
A platinum plaque replaced the section
of skull that was destroyed and his
fractures slowly healed, eventually
allowing him to walk and move at an
almost normal pace.
But as we were warned, his brain
injuries had permanent consequences.
He was diagnosed with BROCA´S
APHASIA and started speech therapy
four months after the accident but
suspended them after one year.

6. Broca´s (or expressive) aphasia results from damage to BROCA´S AREA in the
LEFT FRONTAL LOBE, responsible for production of language (Spoken, written or
through signs).This type of aphasia is also referred to as “non-fluent aphasia”
because of the halting and effortful quality of speech. 1
Although it was not stated in the
medical report, there were signs of
damage to WERNICKE´S AREA as
well. We noticed that “T” had a slower
comprehension to speech, and he was
unable to read.

7. Along with everything we learned at the time
from aphasia, we assumed that the lesion in the
optic eye meant that “T” had completely lost sight
from the left eye. But, as I learned on this course,
the permanent loss of the LEFT OPTIC EYE
restricted “T” from viewing the LEFT VISUAL
FIELD OF EACH EYE, which could explain the lack
of confidence he had when walking, or grabbing
objects. On top of that, I doubt that he focused
correctly with the left eye, since the impact crushed
the rim of skull around it and a bad reconstructive
surgery evidently misplaced it.

8. It was also evident that “T” had trouble with his
fine and gross motor skills, partially attributed to
the severity of the fractures, but I ask myself if
there was additional damage to the MOTOR
CORTEX as well, or if other brain areas and
functions were permanently affected as a
consequence of the SEVERE BRAIN EDEMA.
I cannot have access to the medical file to find
out precisely the location and extent of lesions in
my friend´s brain, but as I also learned in this
course, our brain has the power to modify its
structure not only during normal development, but
in adulthood in case of traumatic events or injuries.

9. “Adult BRAIN PLASTICITY has been clearly implicated as a
means for recovery from sensory-motor deprivation, peripheral
injury, and brain injury”. 2
MEMORY is one more aspect where the brain´s plasticity and
strength are evident. After the first surgery, due to the brain
edema, we were afraid that he would suffer of some kind of
amnesia, but once he regained consciousness, slowly but
gradually, the three types of memory (Working, declarative,
and implicit) seemed to be almost normal. The only event he
never recalled was the minutes before his accident.

10. The course answered a lot of questions, not only regarding my
friend´s aphasia, but also in my experience with a beloved uncle who
lived with polio, and recently, when I worked in a non profit center for
children with various neurological disorders.
Thank you, Prof. Mason and the staff of The University of Chicago for
your generosity.

11. Sources
1 National Aphasia Association
http://www.aphasia.org
2 Brain Plasticity. Prof. Ron Frostig. University of California, Irvine
www.brainfacts.org/About-Neuroscience/Ask-an-Expert/Articles/2012/What-is-Brain-Plasticity