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At least 1,693 records · Page 94Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Age-of-acquisition effects in word and picture identification.

Words and pictures with earlier learned labels are processed faster than words and pictures with later learned labels. This age-of-acquisition (AoA) effect has been extensively investigated in many different types of tasks. This article provides a review of these studies including picture naming, word naming, speeded word naming, word pronunciation durations, lexical decisions, eye fixation times, face recognition, and episodic memory tasks. The measurement and validity of AoA ratings is discussed, along with statistical techniques used for exploring AoA's influence. Finally, theories of AoA are outlined, and evidence for and against the various theories is presented.

Child↗
PubMed2006

Manipulating inattentional blindness within and across sensory modalities.

People often fail to consciously perceive visual events that are outside the focus of attention, a phenomenon referred to as inattentional blindness or IB (i.e., Mack & Rock, 1998). Here, we investigated IB for words within and across sensory modalities (visually and auditorily) in order to assess whether dividing attention across different senses has the same consequences as dividing attention within an individual sensory modality. Participants were asked to monitor a rapid stream of pictures or sounds presented concurrently with task-irrelevant words (spoken or written). A word recognition test was used to measure the processing for unattended words compared to word recognition levels after explicitly monitoring the word stream. We were able to produce high levels of IB for visually and auditorily presented words under unimodal conditions (Experiment 1) as well as under crossmodal conditions (Experiment 2). A further manipulation revealed, however, that IB is less prevalent when attention is divided across modalities than within the same modality (Experiment 3). These findings are explained in terms of the attentional load hypothesis and suggest that, contrary to some claims, attention resources are to a certain extent shared across sensory modalities.

Attention↗
PubMed2000

Syntactic and semantic processing in Hebrew readers with prelingual deafness.

The experimenter investigated the effect of semantic clues on the reading comprehension of deaf and hearing Israeli children. Two groups of students with prelingual deafness, and a hearing control group, were asked to read syntactically simple and syntactically relative sentences of varying semantic plausibility. Sixteen of the participants who were deaf (mean grade 6.9) had been trained orally, using spoken language as their principal means of communication at home and at school. Another 16 students with deafness (mean grade 6.9), all of them children of deaf parents, had acquired sign language as their primary language. The mean grade of the hearing control group was 6.5. The results suggest that, in contrast to the case with hearing individuals, reading comprehension in individuals with prelingually acquired deafness, regardless of communication background, is predominantly determined by the semantic processing of content words, with only minor attention given to the processing of the syntactic structure of the text.

Child↗
PubMed2003

An enquiry into the process of categorization of pictures and words.

This paper reports a series of experiments conducted to study the categorization of pictures and words. Whereas some studies reported in the past have found a picture advantage in categorization, other studies have yielded no differences between pictures and words. This paper used an experimental paradigm designed to overcome some methodological problems to examine picture-word categorization. The results of one experiment were consistent with an advantage for pictures in categorization. To identify the source of the picture advantage in categorization, two more experiments were conducted. Findings suggest that semantic relatedness may play an important role in the categorization of both pictures and words. We explain these findings by suggesting that pictures simultaneously access both their concept and visually salient features whereas words may initially access their concept and may subsequently activate features. Therefore, pictures have an advantage in categorization by offering multiple routes to semantic processing.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Level of processing and the process-dissociation procedure: elusiveness of null effects on estimates of automatic retrieval.

We describe two experiments that used the process-dissociation procedure to investigate the effects of level of processing on estimates of controlled and automatic retrieval processes in word-stem completion tasks. Despite our best endeavours, we found the null effect of level of processing on estimates of automatic retrieval reported by Toth, Reingold, and Jacoby (1994) elusive. Estimates of automatic retrieval were not independent of level of processing but inversely related to it. In part, the reason was that, following deeper levels of processing, instructions to exclude recollected words led to floor effects. But the inverse relationship persisted even when floor effects were avoided. Only participants who were not given strict instructions in the exclusion task-and who also qualified as lax responders based on answers in a structured post-test interview-showed no effect of level of processing on estimates of automatic retrieval. This null effect apparently occurred because these participants failed to exclude words that they in fact recollected from the study list. This finding violates the critical assumption that in this task participants exclude recollected words. The results are therefore paradoxical. Successful replication of the null effect occurred only under conditions that preclude the very use of the procedure. This paradox has important implications for views on how consciousness should be conceived in relation to memory.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

ERP analysis of cognitive sequencing: a left anterior negativity related to structural transformation processing.

A major objective of cognitive neuroscience is to identify those neurocomputational processes that may be shared by multiple cognitive functions vs those that are highly specific. This problem of identifying general vs specialized functions is of particular interest in the domain of language processing. Within this domain, event related brain potential (ERP) studies have demonstrated a left anterior negativity (LAN) in a range 300-700 ms, associated with syntactic processing, often linked to grammatical function words. These words have little or no semantic content, but rather play a role in encoding syntactic structure required for parsing. In the current study we test the hypothesis that the LAN reflects the operation of a more general sequence processing capability in which special symbols encode structural information that, when combined with past elements in the sequence, allows the prediction of successor elements. We recorded ERPs during a non-linguistic sequencing task that required subjects (n = 10) to process special symbols possessing the functional property defined above. When compared to ERPs in a control condition, function symbol processing elicits a left anterior negative shift between temporal and spatial characteristics quite similar to the LAN described during function word processing in language, supporting our hypothesis. These results are discussed in the context of related studies of syntactic and cognitive sequence processing.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Attentional shifting and the role of the dorsal pathway in visual word recognition.

A substantial amount of evidence has been collected to propose an exclusive role for the dorsal visual pathway in the control of guided visual search mechanisms, specifically in the preattentive direction of spatial selection [Vidyasagar, T. R. (1999). A neuronal model of attentional spotlight: Parietal guiding the temporal. Brain Research and Reviews, 30, 66-76; Vidyasagar, T. R. (2001). From attentional gating in macaque primary visual cortex to dyslexia in humans. Progress in Brain Research, 134, 297-312]. Moreover, it has been suggested recently that the dorsal visual pathway is specifically involved in the spatial selection and sequencing required for orthographic processing in visual word recognition. In this experiment we manipulate the demands for spatial processing in a word recognition, lexical decision task by presenting target words in a normal spatial configuration, or where the constituent letters of each word are spatially shifted relative to each other. Accurate word recognition in the Shifted-words condition should demand higher spatial encoding requirements, thereby making greater demands on the dorsal visual stream. Magnetoencephalographic (MEG) neuroimaging revealed a high frequency (35-40Hz) right posterior parietal activation consistent with dorsal stream involvement occurring between 100 and 300ms post-stimulus onset, and then again at 200-400ms. Moreover, this signal was stronger in the shifted word condition, compared to the normal word condition. This result provides neurophysiological evidence that the dorsal visual stream may play an important role in visual word recognition and reading. These results further provide a plausible link between early stage theories of reading, and the magnocellular-deficit theory of dyslexia, which characterises many types of reading difficulty.

Attention↗
PubMed1995

[Glossary of terms used by radiologists in image processing].

We give the definition of 166 words used in image processing. Adaptivity, aliazing, analog-digital converter, analysis, approximation, arc, artifact, artificial intelligence, attribute, autocorrelation, bandwidth, boundary, brightness, calibration, class, classification, classify, centre, cluster, coding, color, compression, contrast, connectivity, convolution, correlation, data base, decision, decomposition, deconvolution, deduction, descriptor, detection, digitization, dilation, discontinuity, discretization, discrimination, disparity, display, distance, distorsion, distribution dynamic, edge, energy, enhancement, entropy, erosion, estimation, event, extrapolation, feature, file, filter, filter floaters, fitting, Fourier transform, frequency, fusion, fuzzy, Gaussian, gradient, graph, gray level, group, growing, histogram, Hough transform, Houndsfield, image, impulse response, inertia, intensity, interpolation, interpretation, invariance, isotropy, iterative, JPEG, knowledge base, label, laplacian, learning, least squares, likelihood, matching, Markov field, mask, matching, mathematical morphology, merge (to), MIP, median, minimization, model, moiré, moment, MPEG, neural network, neuron, node, noise, norm, normal, operator, optical system, optimization, orthogonal, parametric, pattern recognition, periodicity, photometry, pixel, polygon, polynomial, prediction, pulsation, pyramidal, quantization, raster, reconstruction, recursive, region, rendering, representation space, resolution, restoration, robustness, ROC, thinning, transform, sampling, saturation, scene analysis, segmentation, separable function, sequential, smoothing, spline, split (to), shape, threshold, tree, signal, speckle, spectrum, spline, stationarity, statistical, stochastic, structuring element, support, syntaxic, synthesis, texture, truncation, variance, vision, voxel, windowing.

Diagnostic Imaging↗
PubMed1998

[Semantic development of the word "nursing" after 1883].

The process of semantic enrichment of the word "nursing" with new features of denotation lasted half a century until it finally, at the turn of the century, acquired the denotation of actions rendered to the sick person associated so far with health prevention in to-day sense of the word. The author shows the influence of cultural-social and medical inspirations on forming of the lexical force of the word. She pays attention to the significance of the effect of the romantic cult of woman and maternity on perception of the important role of the female element and its attributes in nursing. Furthermore, the author points to the national connotations and a special role of polish women in their attending the brother soldier wounded in the fight for independence. She brings out the therapeutic role of nursing in fighting pain and of the spiritual realm of a sick person. The author presents the stages of broadening of the definition substantial range including the moment when it was broadened with the psychotherapy elements. Furthermore, the author describes the evolution of the therapeutic - nursing procedures, the stimuli-oriented procedures and the so-called energy-saving effect. Participation of nurses in the observation of a sick person became a very important factor. The author points here to certain lateness in this respect as compared to the existing regulations in Europe. Forming and enrichment of the polish onomatology was accompanied by associating of the ability to nurse with the knowledge that was becoming more and more indispensable at the turn of the century in supporting of the physicians' efforts and in guarantying of the continuity and consistency of medical therapy.

History, 19th Century↗
PubMed2004

Neurophysiological distinction of action words in the fronto-central cortex.

It has been suggested that the processing of action words referring to leg, arm, and face movements (e.g., to kick, to pick, to lick) leads to distinct patterns of neurophysiological activity. We addressed this issue using multi-channel EEG and beam-former estimates of distributed current sources within the head. The categories of leg-, arm-, and face-related words were carefully matched for important psycholinguistic factors, including word frequency, imageability, valence, and arousal, and evaluated in a behavioral study for their semantic associations. EEG was recorded from 64 scalp electrodes while stimuli were presented visually in a reading task. We applied a linear beam-former technique to obtain optimal estimates of the sources underlying the word-evoked potentials. These suggested differential activation in frontal areas of the cortex, including primary motor, pre-motor, and pre-frontal sites. Leg words activated dorsal fronto-parietal areas more strongly than face- or arm-related words, whereas face-words produced more activity at left inferior-frontal sites. In the right hemisphere, arm-words activated lateral-frontal areas. We interpret the findings in the framework of a neurobiological model of language and discuss the possible role of mirror neurons in the premotor cortex in language processing.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of reverberation time on the cognitive load in speech communication: theoretical considerations.

The paper presents a theoretical analysis of possible effects of reverberation time on the cognitive load in speech communication. Speech comprehension requires not only phonological processing of the spoken words. Simultaneously, this information must be further processed and stored. All this processing takes place in the working memory, which has a limited processing capacity. The more resources that are allocated to word identification, the fewer resources are therefore left for the further processing and storing of the information. Reverberation conditions that allow the identification of almost all words may therefore still interfere with speech comprehension and memory storing. These problems are likely to be especially serious in situations where speech has to be followed continuously for a long time. An unfavourable reverberation time (RT) then could contribute to the development of cognitive fatigue, which means that working memory resources are gradually reduced. RT may also affect the cognitive load in two other ways: RT may change the distracting effects of a sound and a person's mood. Both effects could influence the cognitive load of a listener. It is argued that we need studies of RT effects in realistic long-lasting listening situations to better understand the effect of RT on speech communication. Furthermore, the effect of RT on distraction and mood need to be better understood.

Attention↗
PubMed1995

Psychopharmacological analysis of implicit and explicit memory: a study with lorazepam and the benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil.

Recent studies have suggested that the benzodiazepine (BZ) lorazepam (LZ) differs from other BZs in its impairing effects on implicit memory tasks. The present study was designed to assess whether this atypical effect withstood the experimental rigour of Schacter's retrieval intentionality criterion and further, whether it could be reversed by the BZ antagonist, flumazenil (FL). The separate and combined effects of LZ, FL and placebo (PL) were assessed on indices of memory, sedation, and attention in 48 healthy volunteers. LZ disrupted performance on both explicit and implicit memory tasks, induced motor sedation and impaired focussed attention. Fl attenuated LZ-induced attentional deficits but did not affect motor sedation. FL also attenuated LZ-induced impairment on the implicit retrieval task. On the explicit retrieval task FL attenuated LZ-induced impairment for words which had been deeply processed at study but not words which had been shallowly processed. A subsequent recognition test showed LZ impaired recognition memory only when accompanied by recollective experience and flumazenil again attenuated this effect. FL itself lowered performance on several measures, reflecting intrinsic activity of this "antagonist". Assessment of the relationship between the mnestic and other effects of the drugs suggested that attentional effects contribute to, but do not explain, effects on implicit memory tasks. These results imply that the apparent atypical effects of LZ on implicit memory tasks are mediated by the same BZ receptor complex as mediates LZ's other effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Auditory temporal processing performance of young adults with reading disorders.

The present study investigated the temporal processing abilities of college students with diagnosed reading disorders. A behavioral test battery was used that involved discrimination of the pattern of presentation of tone triads in which individual components differed in either frequency or duration. An additional test involving measurement of frequency difference limens for long- and short-duration tones was also administered. The college students with reading disorders exhibited significantly higher error rates in discriminating duration patterns than the normal reading group. No group differences were found for the frequency pattern discrimination task. Both groups exhibited larger frequency difference limens with the shorter 20- and 50-ms tones than with the 200-ms tones. Significant correlations were found between reading ability measures and temporal processing abilities, specifically in word recognition and duration pattern processing, suggesting a relationship between lower level auditory temporal processing skills and decoding efficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Functional neuroanatomy of the cognitive process of mapping during discourse comprehension.

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify brain regions involved in the process of mapping coherent discourse onto a developing mental representation. We manipulated discourse coherence by presenting sentences with definite articles (which lead to more coherent discourse) or indefinite articles (which lead to less coherent discourse). Comprehending connected discourse, compared with reading unrelated sentences, produced more neural activity in the right than left hemisphere of the frontal lobe. Thus, the right hemisphere of the frontal lobe is involved in some of the processes underlying mapping. In contrast, left-hemisphere structures were associated with lower-level processes in reading (such as word recognition and syntactic processing). Our results demonstrate the utility of using fMRI to investigate the neural substrates of higher-level cognitive processes such as discourse comprehension.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Processing of Japanese morphogram and syllabogram in the left basal temporal area: electrical cortical stimulation studies.

Language functions in the left basal temporal area (LBTA) were investigated using electrical cortical stimulation during functional mapping in six Japanese patients with refractory epilepsy. This study provides the first direct evidence that kana (Japanese syllabogram) is processed in the LBTA. Electrical stimulation of some areas within LBTA induced disturbance in overt reading of kana words only in the first trials, with no errors in the subsequent trials. By contrast, stimulation of the same area caused obvious disturbance in kana non-word reading in all trials. Since a kana word carries both meaning and sound while a kana non-word carries only sounds of a letter string, the contrasting results of partial and complete disturbance imply a possibility that there are two distinct pathways for kana reading: one dealing with both phonological and semantic aspects of the words and the other dealing only with phonological aspect. Kanji words (Japanese morphogram) and objects/pictures were found to be processed in an area different from the area for the kana non-word processing. Furthermore, the present study also identified the common area for processing kanji reading and object/picture naming. There were no errors in matching pictures with kanji words, indicating that concepts of pictures and meanings of kanji words were not interfered by the electrical stimulation of that area. The new insight provides a clue for partial description of processing pathways for language-related visual information in LBTA. Three types of information (morphological, phonological, and semantic) are conveyed together at some stages and are separated into different routes at some other stages.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed2004

Hemisphere differences in conscious and unconscious word reading.

Hemisphere differences in word reading were examined using explicit and implicit processing measures. In an inclusion task, which indexes both conscious (explicit) and unconscious (implicit) word reading processes, participants were briefly presented with a word in either the right or the left visual field and were asked to use this word to complete a three-letter word stem. In an exclusion task, which estimates unconscious word reading, participants completed the word stem with any word other than the prime word. Experiment 1 showed that words presented to either visual field were processed in very similar ways in both tasks, with the exception that words in the right visual field (left hemisphere) were more readily accessible for conscious report. Experiment 2 indicated that unconsciously processed words are shared between the hemispheres, as similar results were obtained when either the same or the opposite visual field received the word stem. Experiment 3 demonstrated that this sharing between hemispheres is cortically mediated by testing a split-brain patient. These results suggest that the left hemisphere advantage for word reading holds only for explicit measures; unconscious word reading is much more balanced between the hemispheres.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The functional neural architecture of components of attention in language-processing tasks.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging we examined three important dimensions of attentional control (selective attention, divided attention, and executive function) in 25 neurologically normal, right-handed men and women, using tasks involving the perception and processing of printed words, spoken words, or both. In the context of language-processing manipulations: selective attention resulted in increased activation at left hemisphere parietal sites as well as at inferior frontal sites, divided attention resulted in additional increases in activation at these same left hemisphere sites and was also uniquely associated with increased activation of homologous sites in the right hemisphere, and executive function (measured during a complex task requiring sequential decision-making) resulted in increased activation at frontal sites relative to all other conditions. Our findings provide support for the belief that specific functional aspects of attentional control in language processing involve widely distributed but distinctive cortical systems, with mechanisms associated with the control of perceptual selectivity involving primarily parietal and inferior frontal sites and executive function engaging specific sites in frontal cortex.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The contribution of attention to the right visual field advantage for word recognition.

Perceptual asymmetries have been explained by structural, attentional bias and attentional advantage models. Structural models focus on asymmetries in the physical access information has to the hemispheres, whereas attentional models focus on asymmetries in the operation of attentional processes. A series of experiments was conducted to assess the contribution of attentional mechanisms to the right visual field (RVF) advantage found for word recognition. Valid, invalid and neutral peripheral cues were presented at a variety of stimulus onset asynchronies to manipulate spatial attention. Results indicated a significant RVF advantage and cueing effect. The effect of the cue was stronger for the left visual field than the RVF. This interaction supports the attentional advantage model which suggests that the left hemisphere requires less attention to process words. The attentional asymmetry is interpreted in terms of the different word processing styles used by the left and right hemispheres. These results have ramifications for the methodology used in divided visual field research and the interpretation of this research.

Adolescent↗