title: Biomarkers of "Linguistic Anxiety" in aphasia: a proof-of-concept case study.
abstract: This is a proof-of-concept case study designed to evaluate the presence of "Linguistic Anxiety" in a person with mild aphasia. The participant (aged 68) was tested on linguistic and non-linguistic cognitive tasks administered under conditions that differed in levels of anxiety. A validated anxiety-induction technique rarely used in previous aphasia studies was employed: the participant was instructed to prepare for a public speaking presentation. Measures of linguistic and non-linguistic cognitive performance, and anxiety (self-report and psychophysiologic) were obtained. The participant exhibited increased psychophysiologic stress reactivity (heart rate, skin conductance and self-report ratings) in the high-anxiety condition. In the state of increased anxiety, performance on language tasks, in particular discourse production, declined relative to performance in low-anxiety settings. Even in mild aphasia, language-based anxiety can interfere with language performance. This finding provides a basis for carrying out a study with a larger sample that can open a new path to assessment and treatment of persons with aphasia.
authors: Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System , Boston, MA , USA .
authors: Dalia
authors: D
authors: Cahana-Amitay
authors: Abigail C
authors: AC
authors: Oveis
authors: Jesse T
authors: JT
authors: Sayers
authors: Suzanne L
authors: SL
authors: Pineles
authors: Avron
authors: A
authors: Spiro
authors: Martin L
authors: ML
authors: Albert
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000849:Anomia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D008037:Linguistics; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013060:Speech; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Anxiety; aphasia; discourse; linguistic tasks; stress