Thematic Role Priming of Related Verbs: Effects of Multiple Primes

Prime-prime-target priming has been used to examine the effects of multiple influences on processing of target words.  The present study aims to investigate automatic and attentional factors in previous findings, using noun-noun-verb triads filling agent, patient, and action roles in situation schemas (e.g. thief, money, steal) in a continuous priming paradigm in which targets of interest are unknown to participants. Results replicate priming of paired nouns preceding related verbs but do not suggest an additive effect for two nouns versus one. The absence of additive facilitation suggests that attentional processes may have been a component of effects in previous research

Evaluation of Demographic and Language Predictors of Main Concept Production in Spanish/English Bilingual Discourse Using Nicolas and Brookshire Stimuli

Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in the US, and stroke incidence for Hispanics is higher than that of non-Hispanic caucasians (Dong et al., 2012). Since stroke is the leading cause of aphasia, and the majority of Hispanics are bilingual Spanish/English speakers, there is a growing need for appropriate assessment methods for bilingual aphasia. One challenge in assessing bilinguals is their diverse language backgrounds, including differences in proficiency and use across languages. Previous studies have reported correlations between variables such as frequency of use and self-rated proficiency and performance in language tasks such as picture-naming accuracy (Edmonds & Donovan, 2012; Gollan et al. 2007), verbal fluency (Muñoz & Marquardt, 2008, Langdon et al., 2005; Elgamal et al., 2011), and discourse informativeness (Edmonds, 2013). In a study investigating discourse in 83 English/ Spanish bilingual adults, Edmonds (2013) reported varied patters of correlations for informativeness and efficiency measures (WPM, %CIUs, CIUs/min ) in English and Spanish. Naming accuracy and overall proficiency were significantly correlated with all measures of informativeness regardless of language; whereas, percent usage and age of exposure varied across languages (Edmonds, 2013). The metric of %CIU is often used to evaluate informativeness in discourse, but %CIU does not address the completeness of the discourse. I.e., one can achieve high %CIUs by providing correct information on half the picture, thus, targeting only half of the main concepts (MC). Alternatively, many MCs can be discussed with lower %CIU due to repetitions, circumlocutions and reformulations. In order to understand this dynamic better in bilinguals with varying degrees of proficiency across langauges, we adapted Nicholas and Brookshire’s (1993, 1995) MC analysis to this population. Our research questions were: 1) Is there a relationship (correlation) between %CIUs and MCs? 2) What self-reported participant variables (e.g., proficiency ratings, usage) and tested language variables (discourse variables, confrontation naming) correlate to English and Spanish MCs? 3) Of the significantly correlated variables, which contribute most to regression models of MCs in English and Spanish

Evaluating the use of An Object and Action Naming Battery for Spanish/English bilingual adults: An item and participant analysis

The current lack of assessment materials for Spanish/English adults with bilingual aphasia often leads clinicians and researchers to use culturally and psychometrically inappropriate materials. In this study, ninety Spanish/English bilingual adults with varying proficiencies were administered An Object and Action Naming Battery. Item analyses using classical item analysis and item response theory revealed a large number of nouns and verbs able to discriminate proficiency levels in English and Spanish. A regression analysis revealed an emerging model of participant factors that predict naming performance, with Spanish yielding a higher correlation coefficient with more predictive factors than English

Comparing Semantic and Syntactic Expectation between Verbs and Thematic Roles: Evidence from Eyetracking

It has been shown with priming paradigms at the single word level (e.g., Edmonds & Mizrahi, 2011; Ferretti, McRae, & Hatherell, 2001) and eyetracking methods at the sentence level (e.g., Altmann & Kamide, 1999; Kamide, Scheepers, & Altmann, 2003) that a verb generates semantic expectations about an upcoming noun (McRae, Ferretti, & Amyote, 1997). In addition to semantic relationships, syntactic constraint is also involved in the expectation process (e.g., Friederici, Steinhauer, & Frisch, 1999; Gunter, Friederici, & Schriefers, 2000). Therefore, both semantic and syntactic constraints are important for fast and accurate language comprehension. However, previous studies have investigated the importance of each constraint independently and have not compared the two constraint effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of semantic and syntactic constraint to evaluate whether one constraint plays a more important role in expectancy generation. We presented pictures of objects representing the thematic roles of patient (a receiver of the action) and instrument (an object used to do the action) with simultaneous auditory presentation of verbs. With respect to syntax, the patient (bathtub) would be required after a 2-place verb (scrubbing), but the related instrument (sponge) would be optional and not syntactically required. To evaluate semantic expectation, we manipulated the degree of the semantic relationship (see Materials) of the patients and instruments as they related to the presented verb. Using eyetracking, we hypothesized that if participants looked at the patient picture regardless of how strongly the patient was semantically related to the verb, it would indicate that syntactic expectation overrides semantic expectation. Alternatively, if participants looked at the highly-related picture regardless of whether it was a patient or instrument, it would indicate that semantic expectation overrides syntactic expectation

The Effects of Feature Type on Semantic Priming of Picture Naming in Normal Speakers

The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of features on conceptual activation.  A picture naming paradigm was employed to measure speech reaction time (SRT) during feature-to-concept activation.  Forty-seven older adults completed the priming task twice with an ISI of 200msec and 600msec. Results indicate that regardless of semantic category, distinctive feature primes resulted in the fastest SRT compared to shared features, combined distinctive and shared features, and neutral primes.  The results indicate that as stated in the Conceptual Structure Account (Tyler & Moss, 2001; Taylor et al., 2007) distinctive features have a privileged role in concept activation

Delivering word retrieval therapies for people with aphasia in a virtual communication environment

Background: Delivering therapy remotely, via digital technology, can enhance provision for people with aphasia. EVA Park is a multi-user virtual island that can be used for such delivery. The first EVA Park study showed that daily language stimulation delivered via the platform improved functional communication and was positively received by users (Marshall et al, 2016; Amaya et al, 2018). This paper reports two single case studies, evaluating its capacity to deliver targeted language interventions. The first employed therapy for noun retrieval, using cued picture naming and modified Sematic Feature Analysis. The second employed modified Verb Network Strengthening Treatment (VNeST). Aims: This study aimed to determine if treatment delivery was feasible in EVA Park, as assessed by participant compliance, treatment fidelity and participants’ views. It explored the impact of the therapies on treated and untreated word production, connected speech and functional communication. Methods & Procedures: Two participants with aphasia each received 20 sessions of individual therapy in EVA Park, delivered over 5 weeks. Feasibility was assessed by measuring compliance with the therapy regime, recording and checking the fidelity of 20% of treatment sessions, and using post therapy interviews to explore participant views. Treatment outcomes were evaluated via repeated measures single case designs, in which assessments were administered twice before therapy, immediately post therapy and five weeks later. Outcome measures included Object Picture Naming (study 1), Sentence Elicitation Pictures (study 2), Naming 84 items from the Object and Action Naming Battery (study 2), Narrative Production (Study 2), the Northwestern Assessment of Verb and Sentences: Argument Structure Production Test (Study 2) and Communication Activities of Daily Living – 2 (Study 1 & 2). Outcomes & Results: Feasibility results were excellent. Both participants were fully compliant with the therapy regime. There was at least 90% fidelity with the treatment protocols and participant views were positive. Outcomes varied across the studies. The noun therapy significantly improved the naming of treated words, with good maintenance. Lexical gains were less evident on the Sentence Elicitation Pictures used in the VNeST study. Neither study demonstrated generalisation to untreated words, connected speech or functional communication. Conclusions: Two treatment approaches, designed for face to face delivery, could be delivered remotely in EVA Park. Outcomes for the noun treatment were comparable to previous evaluations. Comparisons with previous research were more challenging for VNeST, owing to differences in methodology. Further evaluations of other treatment approaches are warranted

Agent and patient priming of related verbs in younger and older adults

Priming studies in young adults have demonstrated activation of a verb co-activates related thematic roles and vice versa. Using a lexical decision task with a short SOA (250ms), this study aims to 1) replicate agent and patient priming of verbs in younger adults, and 2) investigate agent and patient priming of verbs in older adults (not previously done). Results show significantly faster reaction times for related agent-verb (thief/stealing) and patient-verb (coffee/brewing) pairs than for unrelated agent-verb (thief/winning) and patient-verb (pizza/brewing) pairs for both groups. These findings replicate previous younger adult results and demonstrate maintenance of automatic thematic role-verb processing in older adults

A call to action for public health nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Public health nurses (PHNs) are on the frontline of the public health crisis the world now knows as the COVID-19 pandemic. They serve on mobile strike teams investigating case-contacts, deliver education on self-isolation and quarantine through hotlines and home visits, and interpret the rapidly shifting guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They are reliable and proven responders during infectious disease emergencies, providing safe, effective, and nondiscriminatory care to the communities in which they serve. Yet, despite their critical role, PHN positions have been underfunded, left vacant, eliminated, or replaced over the past three decades. Combined with outsourcing services to agencies that lack the public health mandate and institutional experience necessary to provide public health services to communities, the erosion of the PHN workforce has made us all more vulnerable to both chronic disease and emerging infectious disease threats

Effect of Verb Network Strengthening Treatment (VNeST) on Lexical Retrieval in Sentences in Moderate-Severe Aphasia

Verb Network Strengthening Treatment (VNeST) aims to improve lexical retrieval in sentences in aphasia. A previous study showed promising results in persons with moderate aphasia. The current study uses a single-subject experimental design (N=2) to evaluate VNeST in moderate-severe aphasia. Treatment focused on strengthening connections between verbs (measure) and their thematic roles (chef/sugar). Generalization (c-statistic) was observed in sentences using trained (The carpenter is measuring the stairs.) and untrained (The nurse is weighting the baby.) verbs for both participants. Pre-post treatment effect sizes ranged from 5.06 to 11.3. Participants also exhibited pre-post improvements in verb and noun naming and sentence production