Neurolinguistic Investigations of Aphasia and Recovery

描述（由申请人提供）：本项目拟继续致力于确定对失语症（布罗卡氏）的句子缺陷的治疗效果。在这项研究中，我们研究了语言学理论的相关性，以了解失语症的句子分解和恢复模式，并收集数据，以进一步发展正常的句子生产帐户。我们计划建立在以前的工作突出的重要作用，语言结构可以发挥指导治疗失语症。特别是，我们检查和操纵的词汇和句法属性的句子是最困难的语法性失语症的科目。我们专注于（a）句子结构（例如，填充空缺结构），其中名词短语（NP），和其它元素（例如，动词和助动词）已经从它们原来的D-结构位置移走，（B）功能类别（例如，动词时态形态和补语），以及（c）动词和动词论元结构。 我们还继续测试这一假设，即训练更复杂的结构，而不是简单的结构，将导致更大的改善方面的句子生产和理解。我们根据句子中涉及的（a）运动类型来定义句子复杂性，即，（B）短语树结构和句法树中节点之间的关系;（c）嵌入的数量和类型。此外，我们考虑动词的词汇属性，以及它们如何影响确定复杂性的句法操作。 在此期间，我们还将我们的工作扩展到开始理解产生观察到的恢复模式的机制。使用头戴式眼动仪，我们检查了正常参与者和失语症患者治疗前后的填充间隙处理。功能磁共振成像研究也包括检查恢复的神经机制。虽然神经影像学研究已经开始阐明语言的神经相关性，但很少有人研究失语症患者的大脑部位，更少有人研究支持恢复的神经机制。在前一个周期进行的功能磁共振成像研究显示，从治疗前到治疗后，激活模式发生了重要变化。因此，我们在继续研究中继续这一努力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The present project is proposed to continue work toward establishing the effects of treatment for sentence deficits in agrammatic (Broca's) aphasia. In this research we examine the relevance of linguistic theory to understanding sentence breakdown and recovery patterns in aphasia and gather data to further developing accounts of normal sentence production. We plan to build on previous work highlighting the important role that linguistic structure can play in guiding treatment for aphasia. In particular, we examine and manipulate lexical and syntactic properties of sentences that are the most difficult for agrammatic aphasic subjects. We focus on (a) sentence structures (e.g., filler gap structures) in which noun phrases (NPs), and other elements (e.g., verbs and auxiliaries) have been moved out of their original d-structure positions, (b) functional categories (e.g., verb tense morphology and complementizers), and (c) verb and verb argument structure. We also continue to test the hypothesis that training more complex rather than simple structures will result in greater improvement in aspects of sentence production and comprehension. We define sentence complexity in terms of the (a) type of movement involved in sentences, i.e., wh- and NP-movement, (b) phrasal tree structure and the relation between nodes in the syntactic tree, and (c) the number and type of embeddings. In addition, we consider the lexical properties of verbs and how they impact syntactic operations in determining complexity. In this period we also extend our work to begin to understand mechanisms that generate observed recovery patterns. Using head-mounted eyetracking, we examine filler gap processing in normal participants and in aphasic patients prior to and following treatment. FMRI studies also are included to examine the neural mechanisms of recovery. While neuroimaging studies have begun to elucidate the neural correlates of language, few have examined brain sites recruited by aphasic patients, and even fewer have studied the neural mechanisms supporting recovery. FMRI studies undertaken in the previous cycle showed important changes in activation patterns from pre- to post-treatment. We, therefore, continue this effort in our continuing studies.