TY - JOUR
T1 - Making sense out of jargon
T2 - A neurolinguistic and computational account of jargon aphasia
AU - Hillis, Argye E.
AU - Boatman, Dana
AU - Hart, John
AU - Gordon, Barry
PY - 1999/11/10
Y1 - 1999/11/10
N2 - Objective: To identify the cognitive and neuroanatomic bases of neologistic jargon aphasia with spared comprehension and production of written words. Methods: Detailed analysis of performance across experiments of naming, reading, writing, repetition, and word/picture matching by a 68- year-old woman (J.B.N.) served to identify which cognitive mechanisms underlying naming and word comprehension were impaired. J.B.N.'s impairments were then simulated by selectively 'lesioning' a computer model of word production that has semantic, word form, and subword phonologic levels of representation (described by Dell in 1986). Results: In comprehension experiments, J.B.N. made far more errors with spoken word input than with written word or picture input (chi-square = 40-59; df = 1; p < 0.0001) despite intact auditory discrimination. In naming experiments (with picture, definition, or tactile input), J.B.N. made far more errors in spoken output relative to written output (chi-square = 14-56; df = 1; p < 0.0001). These selective impairments of spoken word processing were simulated by reducing connection strength between word-level and subword-level phonologic units but maintaining full connection strength between word-level and semantic units in Dell's model. The simulation yielded a distribution of error types that was nearly identical to that of J.B.N., and her CT and MRI scans showed a small subarachnoid hemorrhage in the left sylvian fissure without infarct. Cerebral angiogram showed focal vasospasm in sylvian branches of the left middle cerebral artery. Conclusion: Focal left perisylvian dysfunction can result in a highly selective 'disconnection' between word-level and subword-level phonologic representations manifest as neologistic jargon aphasia with intact understanding and production of written words.
AB - Objective: To identify the cognitive and neuroanatomic bases of neologistic jargon aphasia with spared comprehension and production of written words. Methods: Detailed analysis of performance across experiments of naming, reading, writing, repetition, and word/picture matching by a 68- year-old woman (J.B.N.) served to identify which cognitive mechanisms underlying naming and word comprehension were impaired. J.B.N.'s impairments were then simulated by selectively 'lesioning' a computer model of word production that has semantic, word form, and subword phonologic levels of representation (described by Dell in 1986). Results: In comprehension experiments, J.B.N. made far more errors with spoken word input than with written word or picture input (chi-square = 40-59; df = 1; p < 0.0001) despite intact auditory discrimination. In naming experiments (with picture, definition, or tactile input), J.B.N. made far more errors in spoken output relative to written output (chi-square = 14-56; df = 1; p < 0.0001). These selective impairments of spoken word processing were simulated by reducing connection strength between word-level and subword-level phonologic units but maintaining full connection strength between word-level and semantic units in Dell's model. The simulation yielded a distribution of error types that was nearly identical to that of J.B.N., and her CT and MRI scans showed a small subarachnoid hemorrhage in the left sylvian fissure without infarct. Cerebral angiogram showed focal vasospasm in sylvian branches of the left middle cerebral artery. Conclusion: Focal left perisylvian dysfunction can result in a highly selective 'disconnection' between word-level and subword-level phonologic representations manifest as neologistic jargon aphasia with intact understanding and production of written words.
KW - Anomia
KW - Aphasia
KW - Pure word deafness
KW - Vasospasm
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U2 - 10.1212/wnl.53.8.1813
DO - 10.1212/wnl.53.8.1813
M3 - Article
C2 - 10563633
AN - SCOPUS:0033544403
SN - 0028-3878
VL - 53
SP - 1813
EP - 1824
JO - Neurology
JF - Neurology
IS - 8
ER -