A real-time approach to spoken language processing in aphasia.
The study is based on an on-line investigation of spoken language comprehension processes in 25 French-speaking aphasics using a syllable-monitoring task. Nonsense syllables were presented in three different conditions: context-free (embedded in strings of nonsense syllables), lexical context (where the target nonsense syllable is the initial, medial, or final syllable of real three-syllable words), and sentence context. This study builds on an earlier one that explored the relationship between the acoustic-phonetic, lexical, and sentential levels of spoken language processing in French-speaking normals and gave evidence of top-down lexical and sentential influence on syllable recognition. In the present study, aphasic patients from various diagnostic categories were classified as high (N = 13) or low (N = 12) comprehenders. The results show that low comprehending aphasics make no use of sentence information in the syllable-recognition task. As for top-down effect at the single word level that is observed in normal listeners. However, a subgroup analysis shows that the Broca's are the only high comprehending aphasics who perform in the same way as normal listeners; this sets them apart from the anomics and conduction aphasics.
Metz-Lutz
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MN
INSERM-Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, France.
Wioland
F
F
Brock
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001037:Aphasia / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010700:Phonetics; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013067:Speech Perception