title: A computational approach to quantifiers as an explanation for some language impairments in schizophrenia.
abstract: We compared the processing of natural language quantifiers in a group of patients with schizophrenia and a healthy control group. In both groups, the difficulty of the quantifiers was consistent with computational predictions, and patients with schizophrenia took more time to solve the problems. However, they were significantly less accurate only with proportional quantifiers, like more than half. This can be explained by noting that, according to the complexity perspective, only proportional quantifiers require working memory engagement.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  (1) Working memory deficits can be a source of language disorders in schizophrenia. (2) Processing of proportional quantifiers, like more than half or less than half involves working memory. (3) Patients with schizophrenia are less accurate only with proportional quantifiers, like more than half. (4) This result support the computational model of quantifiers processing.
authors: Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Poland. zajenkowski@psych.uw.edu.pl
authors: Marcin
authors: M
authors: Zajenkowski
authors: Rafał
authors: R
authors: Styła
authors: Jakub
authors: J
authors: Szymanik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011930:Reaction Time; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055815:Young Adult