Short-term memory in children with Williams syndrome: a reduced contribution of lexical--semantic knowledge to word span.
Williams syndrome (WS) is a genetic syndrome of abnormal neurodevelopment, characterised by a specific linguistic pattern. Comparing performances of WS subjects with those of normal children in a word span task, we found that WS subjects revealed normal phonological similarity and length effects but a reduced frequency effect. Our results suggest comparable phonological encoding mechanisms in WS and normal controls and, at the same time, it provides evidence for an impaired access to lexical-semantic knowledge in WS subjects. This dissociation fits well with the particular pattern of linguistic abilities of these subjects.
Vicari
S
S
I.R.C.C.S. Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Santa Marinella, Rome, Italy.
Carlesimo
G
G
Brizzolara
D
D
Pezzini
G
G
D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012660:Semantics; D014825:Vocabulary; D018980:Williams Syndrome / Q000150:complications*