title: An investigation into semantic and phonological processing in individuals with Williams syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study examined semantic and phonological processing in individuals with Williams syndrome (WS). Previous research in language processing in individuals with WS suggests a complex linguistic system characterized by "deviant" semantic organization and differential phonological processing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two experiments explored these representations in individuals with WS. The first experiment analyzed the relative typicality and frequency of participants' responses to a semantic and phonological fluency task. The second experiment tapped into online language processing through a semantic priming task and an online sentence reading task measuring the effects of word frequency. Thirteen participants with WS were matched to a group of participants on reading grade level and a group of participants on chronological age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the semantic fluency task, semantic priming task, and word frequency task suggest that semantic organization in individuals with WS appears commensurate with their reading level rather than deviant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pattern of results suggests that individuals with WS do not appear to have deviant semantic organization, while confirming that online tasks that tap into these processes are a promising direction in investigations that include atypically developing populations. These findings for the phonological tasks warrant further research into phonological processing in individuals with WS.
authors.forename: Cheryl S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Katherine S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Binder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001308:Auditory Perceptual Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007807:Language Tests; D008037:Linguistics; D010700:Phonetics; D012660:Semantics; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D018980:Williams Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult