Executive Function and Ambiguous Sentence Comprehension

Sentence comprehension is a critical skill in today's literate society. Recent evidence suggests that processing and comprehending language taps cognitive as well as linguistic abilities, a finding that has critical import for clinicians who have clients with language disorders. To promote awar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of speech-language pathology 2016-05, Vol.25 (2), p.252-267
Main Authors: Key-DeLyria, Sarah E, Altmann, Lori J P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Cognition
Cognition & reasoning
Cognitive ability
Comprehension
Executive Function
Humans
Interpersonal communication
Language
Language disorders
Language Processing
Listening comprehension
Memory, Short-Term
Neurosciences
Researchers
Sentences
Sociological research
Studies
Task analysis
Traumatic brain injury
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Summary:Sentence comprehension is a critical skill in today's literate society. Recent evidence suggests that processing and comprehending language taps cognitive as well as linguistic abilities, a finding that has critical import for clinicians who have clients with language disorders. To promote awareness of the impact of cognition, especially executive function (EF) and working memory (WM), this opinion article presents current views of how sentences are processed and links the various steps of the process to specific EF and WM subcomponents. The article focuses on ambiguous sentences, pointing out the similar types of processing needed when resolving an ambiguity and performing EF tasks. We discuss the potential overlap between the neurobiology of sentence processing and EF and the evidence supporting a link between EF and sentence processes. Awareness of the potential role of EF and WM in sentence comprehension will help clinicians be more aware of potential cognitive-linguistic deficits in their clients. Future research will help to clarify the link between EF and sentence comprehension.
ISSN:1058-0360
1558-9110
DOI:10.1044/2015_AJSLP-14-0111