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Abstract:
Abstract: This study investigated the time course of spoken
word recognition in Broca's aphasics using an eye tracking
methodology. Semantic priming studies have suggested that Broca's
aphasics have abnormally low levels of lexical activation. However,
semantic priming is a relatively indirect measure of lexical
activation, and does not provide time course information. Eye
movement data have been used to more directly measure lexical
activation, and as a source of time course information. A pilot
study compared eye movements of 8 normal subjects with those of 3
Broca's aphasics. Subjects were presented with an array of four
pictures and instructed to point to one of them. The target item
(e.g., 'candle') was either in the presence of an onset (e.g.,
'candy') or a rhyme (e.g., 'handle') competitor and 2
phonologically unrelated items, or it was in the presence of 3
unrelated items. Results for normal subjects showed both onset and
rhyme competitor effects. Broca's aphasics also showed onset and
rhyme competitor effects. However, compared to normal subjects,
Broca's aphasics took longer to disambiguate the target from
unrelated items, onset and rhyme competitor effects lasted longer,
and the magnitude of the rhyme competitor effect was greater. These
results are consistent with the hypothesis that Broca's aphasics
have abnormally low levels of lexical activation. [Supported in
part by NIH grants.]
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