Semantics Flashcards
What verbal tasks test semantics?
Picture naming
Word picture masking
Naming from definition
Providing definitions of objects
Synonym judgement matching
What is semantic knowledge?
General knowledge of objects, concepts and word meaning without connection to time or place
What non verbal tasks test semantics?
Object drawing
Object use
Camel and cactus test
Pyramids and palm trees test
Environmental sounds test
What does the camel and cactus test measure?
Higher order semantic knowledge
What does the environmental sounds test measure?
Match sound and picture no way of knowing connection without semantic knowledge
What is not accounted for in a single store semantic system?
Category specific input/ output impairments
If a single store semantic system was damaged it would affect all areas
What are the arguments for the distributed vs distributed+hub semantic systems?
Distributed only: focal damage should not be able to produce a generalised impairment
Distributed+hub: focal damage to hub should produce semantic impairment independent of modality of input or modality of output
What does semantic dementia prove with regards to distributed vs distributed+ hub semantic systems?
Selective impairment of conceptual knowledge
Sparing of other cognitive functions
Frontotemporal dementia is associated with focal atrophy of anterior temporal lobes which is where we think the hub is
Seems to prove the existence of a hub
What language deficits exist in semantic dementia?
Marked anomia which does not respond to semantic/ phonemic cueing
Accompanied by parallel deficit in word comprehension
How is language impaired in semantic dementia?
All modalities are impaired/ not impaired equally in all modalities
What are the nature of representations in semantic dementia?
Structured gradual degradation of concepts:
Increasing confusion between similar concepts
Loss of atypical and distinguishing information
Over generalisation of typical semantic information
