title: Processing of visual syntax in a globally aphasic patient.
abstract: A globally aphasic patient was trained on a computerized visual communication system. His ability to comprehend reversible locative prepositional phrases after training was studied and compared with the performance of Broca's aphasics on a similar task. This patient's ability to generalize symbols for actions was also investigated. The results demonstrate our patient's capacity to master a formal visual syntax in the absence of natural language and illustrate how this capacity may be used successfully in a visual communication system. A problem in generalizing symbols for actions is demonstrated, suggesting that certain heuristic and cueing capabilities in the approach may be helpful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Palo Alto VA Medical Center, CA 94304.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weinrich
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kleczewska
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Wertz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D001037:Aphasia / Q000523:psychology*; D001039:Aphasia, Broca / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000523:psychology*; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D012660:Semantics; D012984:Software; D013068:Speech Production Measurement