Mind over grammar: reasoning in aphasia and development.
M Siegal1, R Varley, S C. Want
1Dept of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, S10 2TP, Sheffield, UK
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|June 27, 2001
Summary
Adults with aphasia demonstrate propositional reasoning without grammar. Deaf children
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Propositional reasoning, crucial for 'theory of mind', has been studied in relation to language.
- Previous research explored reasoning abilities in individuals with language impairments and in developing children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between propositional reasoning and grammatical knowledge in adults with aphasia.
- To examine the role of grammatical knowledge in the reasoning development of deaf children.
- To explore the influence of communicative intentions on children's reasoning about objects and actions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of propositional reasoning in adult aphasia patients.
- Review of studies on reasoning in deaf children.
- Comparison with research on children's naming, categorization, and imitation.
Main Results:
- Adults with aphasia can engage in propositional reasoning despite lacking explicit grammatical knowledge.
- Grammatical knowledge alone is insufficient to explain reasoning abilities in deaf children.
- Children's reasoning appears guided by inferences about communicative intentions, aligning with naming and categorization studies.
Conclusions:
- Reasoning is not solely dependent on explicit grammar.
- Conversational awareness and experience, rather than grammar, may be key factors supporting reasoning.
- This suggests a dissociation between grammatical competence and higher-order cognitive reasoning.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:10Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
01:28Lateralization
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
01:24Components of Language
Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs. “eh”). Phonemes combine to...
01:22Language Development
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
01:27Language and Cognition
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
01:30Information Processing Approach
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...