Lexical and semantic factors influencing picture naming in aphasia

Picture naming requires early visual analysis, accessing stored structural knowledge, semantic activation, and lexical retrieval. We tested the effect of perceptual, lexical, and semantic variables on the performance of aphasics in picture naming and assessed prevalence of natural categories vs arti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain and cognition 2001-06, Vol.46 (1), p.184-187
Main Authors: Laiacona, Marcella, Luzzatti, Claudio, Zonca, Giusy, Guarnaschelli, Caterina, Capitani, Erminio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aphasia - diagnosis
Aphasia - physiopathology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Recognition (Psychology) - physiology
Semantics
Severity of Illness Index
Vocabulary
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Summary:Picture naming requires early visual analysis, accessing stored structural knowledge, semantic activation, and lexical retrieval. We tested the effect of perceptual, lexical, and semantic variables on the performance of aphasics in picture naming and assessed prevalence of natural categories vs artifact dissociations. Forty-nine aphasics were asked to name 60 pictures, from three natural (animals, fruits, and vegetables) and three artificial categories (tools, furniture, and vehicles). For each item visual (drawing complexity, image agreement), semantic (prototypicality, concept familiarity) and lexical variables (word frequency, name agreement) were available. The effect of these variables showed individual differences; altogether, visual complexity had little influence, whereas lexical and semantic variables were more influential. Name agreement was most important, followed by word frequency. On a multiple single case analysis 10 patients (20%) showed a natural/artificial category dissociation. Five of the six subjects faring better with artifacts were males, and all of four patients faring better with natural categories were females. Interpretations of this finding are discussed.
ISSN:0278-2626
1090-2147
DOI:10.1016/S0278-2626(01)80061-0