Amer-Ind versus ASL: recognition and imitation in aphasic subjects.
The imitation and recognition ability of brain-damaged and normal subjects was tested for 30 pairs of semantically matched ASL signs and corresponding Amer-Ind gestures. Subjects were rated according to severity and site of lesion. They were 6 nonaphasic, right-hemisphere brain-damaged subjects, 12 aphasic subjects, and 12 non-brain-damaged geriatric subjects. Results indicated that the Amer-Ind gestures were significantly easier to imitate and to recognize than the matched ALS signs. The relationships between these gestural abilities and severity of aphasia, site of lesion, Amer-Ind transparency ratings, and subjects' performance on a standardized aphasia test are outlined. The theoretical implications that concern the neural systems which mediate spoken and limb gestures are discussed.
D000368:Aged; D001037:Aphasia / Q000523:psychology*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000523:psychology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D008297:Male; D008369:Manual Communication; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012660:Semantics; D012813:Sign Language