Cue recognition and integration – eye tracking evidence of processing differences in sentence comprehension in aphasia

Schumacher, Rahel; Cazzoli, Dario; Eggenberger, Noëmi; Preisig, Basil; Nef, Tobias; Nyffeler, Thomas; Gutbrod, Klemens; Annoni, Jean-Marie; Müri, René M.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142853

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Journal article

Cue recognition and integration – eye tracking evidence of processing differences in sentence comprehension in aphasia

Schumacher, Rahel Perception and Eye Movement Laboratory, Departments of Neurology and Clinical Research, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, and University of Bern, Switzerland - Division of Cognitive and Restorative Neurology, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Switzerland
Cazzoli, Dario Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, University of Bern, Switzerland - University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland
Eggenberger, Noëmi Perception and Eye Movement Laboratory, Departments of Neurology and Clinical Research, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, and University of Bern, Switzerland
Preisig, Basil Perception and Eye Movement Laboratory, Departments of Neurology and Clinical Research, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, and University of Bern, Switzerland
Nef, Tobias Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, University of Bern, Switzerland - ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Switzerland
Nyffeler, Thomas Perception and Eye Movement Laboratory, Departments of Neurology and Clinical Research, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, and University of Bern, Switzerland - Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Center, Luzerner Kantonsspital, Luzern, Switzerland
Gutbrod, Klemens Division of Cognitive and Restorative Neurology, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Switzerland
Annoni, Jean-Marie Neurology Unit, Laboratory for Cognitive and Neurological Sciences, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Science, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Müri, René M. Perception and Eye Movement Laboratory, Departments of Neurology and Clinical Research, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, and University of Bern, Switzerland - Division of Cognitive and Restorative Neurology, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Switzerland - Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, University of Bern, Switzerland

12.11.2015

Published in:

PLoS ONE. - 2015, vol. 10, no. 11, p. e0142853

English We aimed at further elucidating whether aphasic patients’ difficulties in understanding non-canonical sentence structures, such as Passive or Object-Verb-Subject sentences, can be attributed to impaired morphosyntactic cue recognition, and to problems in integrating competing interpretations.Methods: A sentence-picture matching task with canonical and non-canonical spoken sentences was performed using concurrent eye tracking. Accuracy, reaction time, and eye tracking data (fixations) of 50 healthy subjects and 12 aphasic patients were analysed.Results: Patients showed increased error rates and reaction times, as well as delayed fixation preferences for target pictures in non-canonical sentences. Patients’ fixation patterns differed from healthy controls and revealed deficits in recognizing and immediately integrating morphosyntactic cues.Conclusion: Our study corroborates the notion that difficulties in understanding syntactically complex sentences are attributable to a processing deficit encompassing delayed and therefore impaired recognition and integration of cues, as well as increased competition between interpretations.

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

Médecine 3ème année

Language