SEMANTIC AND VISUAL COGNITION IN ALZHEIMERS DISEASE

语义记忆，或关于对象和事件的一般知识， 世界上，似乎是严重影响大多数患者与阿尔茨海默氏症 疾病（AD）。 本研究的目的是更深入地 理解AD中的语义处理。 总体而言， 有关语义记忆的问题将得到解决。 首先是 语义记忆受损，还是出现了损伤 注意力受损吗 第二，某些类型的语义 知识更容易受到AD的影响，如果是这样，为什么？ 第三，一个 语义记忆的损伤可以解释其他问题， 不是语义上的而是知觉上的还是词汇上的？ 第四，什么 是语义障碍和视觉障碍之间的关系 AD患者的命名困难 最后，什么是 AD患者心理意象的视觉语义加工状态？ 所采用的方法包括对AD患者的实证研究 和正常人，以及计算机模拟。 我们已经利用了 认知心理学理论框架在设计研究中的应用 AD中的语义记忆、视觉和心理意象。 此外，本发明还提供了一种方法， 并行分布式处理（PDP）的概念已经指导了 关于AD和PDP中语义记忆的假设的形成 计算机模拟将提供计算充分性的测试， 这些假设。 此外，计算的新预测 假设已经得出，并将形成进一步的实证基础 在人类身上做的测试

Semantic memory, or general knowledge about objects and events in the world, appears to be severely affected in most patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The goal of the proposed research is a deeper understanding of semantic processing in AD. In overview, the following issues concerning semantic memory will be addressed. First of all, is semantic memory impaired, or does the appearance of impairment come from an attentional impairment? Second, are certain types of semantics knowledge more vulnerable to AD, and if so, why? Third, can an impairment of semantic memory account for other problems that seem, on the face things, not semantic but perceptual or lexical? Fourth, what is the relation between semantic impairments and visual impairments in the confrontation naming difficulties of AD patients? Finally, what is the status of the visual-semantic process of mental imagery in AD? The methods to be used include empirical studies of patients with AD and normal subjects, and computer simulation. We have drawn on the theoretical framework of cognitive psychology in designing studies of semantic memory, vision, and mental imagery in AD. In addition, concepts from parallel distributed processing (PDP) have guided the formulation of hypotheses concerning semantic memory in AD, and PDP computer simulations will provide tests of the computational adequacy of these hypotheses. In addition, new predictions of the computational hypotheses have been derived and will form the basis of further empirical tests with human subjects.