Abstract: To investigate the pathogenesis of Broca-like and Wernicke-like conduction aphasia. Methods 7 cases with Broca-like aphasia (Group A), 7 cases with Wernicke-like aphasia (Group B) and 10 healthy volunteers (Group C) participated in the study. Broca'sarea, Wernicke's area, and the arcuate fasciculus were analyzed by diffusion tensor imaging, and their fractional anisotropy (FA) weremeasured and compared; The fiber construction of Broca's and Wernicke's areas were also compared by diffusion tensor imaging-fibre tractography.Results In Group C, All of the FA was higher in the left hemisphere than in the right hemisphere (P<0.05); In Group A, the FA ofthe Broca's area and anterior segment of the arcuate fasciculus were less in the left than in the right hemisphere (P<0.05)； In Group B, theFA of the Wernicke's area and posterior segment of the arcuate fasciculus were less in the left than in the right (P<0.05). Conclusion Conductionaphasia results not only from arcuate fasciculus destruction, but also from disruption of the associated cortical area. A lesion involvingBroca's area and the anterior segments of the arcuate fasciculus would lead to Broca-like conduction aphasia, whereas a lesion involvedWernicke's area and posterior segments of the arcuate fasciculus would lead to Wernicke-like conduction aphasia.

Key words: diffusion tensor imaging, diffusion tensor imaging-fibre tractography, Broca-like conduction aphasia, Wernicke-like conduction aphasia