TY - JOUR
T1 - Interactivity and continuity in normal and aphasic language production
AU - Ruml, Wheeler
AU - Caramazza, Alfonso
AU - Capasso, Rita
AU - Miceli, Gabriele
PY - 2005/3
Y1 - 2005/3
N2 - Current research in cognitive modelling has assumed that the interactive nature of processing during language production has been supported by fits to the behaviour of brain-damaged patients. In this paper, several previously proposed theories of word production, all based on the interactive spreading-activation theory of Dell (1986), are evaluated in the context of picture naming. Using a new corpus of data from 50 Italian aphasic patients, we find that patient patterns do not seem to demand an interactive theory. We also explore the corollary ideas of continuity between normal and random performance, and global damage in aphasia, and we find that they are incompatible with our data. We argue that it is very difficult for a modelling study to yield strong constraints on cognitive theory. Although valuable, such efforts currently do not contribute evidence for interactive processing in language production.
AB - Current research in cognitive modelling has assumed that the interactive nature of processing during language production has been supported by fits to the behaviour of brain-damaged patients. In this paper, several previously proposed theories of word production, all based on the interactive spreading-activation theory of Dell (1986), are evaluated in the context of picture naming. Using a new corpus of data from 50 Italian aphasic patients, we find that patient patterns do not seem to demand an interactive theory. We also explore the corollary ideas of continuity between normal and random performance, and global damage in aphasia, and we find that they are incompatible with our data. We argue that it is very difficult for a modelling study to yield strong constraints on cognitive theory. Although valuable, such efforts currently do not contribute evidence for interactive processing in language production.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=15544365708&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/02643290442000031
DO - 10.1080/02643290442000031
M3 - Article
C2 - 21038244
AN - SCOPUS:15544365708
VL - 22
SP - 131
EP - 168
JO - Cognitive Neuropsychology
JF - Cognitive Neuropsychology
SN - 0264-3294
IS - 2
ER -