What structural brain abnormalities can affect communication abilities?

Structural brain abnormalities that significantly impact communication abilities are primarily found in the areas of the brain responsible for language processing and speech production. Lesions, tumors, or malformations in these language areas, such as Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area, can disrupt the normal functioning of neural networks involved in communication.

When there is damage to these areas, individuals may experience various forms of aphasia, which affects their ability to produce or comprehend language. For example, lesions in Broca’s area can lead to non-fluent aphasia, characterized by difficulty in speaking but typically with preserved comprehension. On the other hand, damage to Wernicke's area may result in fluent aphasia, where individuals can produce speech but struggle to convey meaningful information.

Such structural changes alter how information is processed and communicated, directly affecting an individual's ability to engage in effective communication. The other options, while they may involve structural changes in the body, do not pertain to the brain's role in language and communication. Fractures in the skull and changes in blood flow to the heart, as well as growths in the lungs, do not directly impact the brain's communicative functions.