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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
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Lexical Decision Task for Studying Written Word Recognition in Adults with and without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: June 25, 2019
Word finding in the damaged brain: probing Marshall's caveat
1Department of Psychology, University of York, York, UK. a.ellis@psych.york.ac.uk
Summary
Anomic word-finding difficulties may stem from impaired access to less common words and vocabulary learned later in life. Research suggests both word frequency and age of acquisition impact word retrieval in patients with aphasia.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychology
- Linguistics
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Anomic speech is characterized by word-finding difficulties.
- Marshall (1977) simulated anomic speech using high-frequency words.
- Previous research suggests impaired access to lower-frequency vocabulary may cause anomia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review research on word-finding difficulties in aphasia and related conditions.
- To evaluate the influence of word frequency and age of acquisition on word retrieval.
- To explore theoretical explanations for age of acquisition effects on vocabulary retention after brain injury.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on word-finding in neuropsychological conditions.
- Analysis of theoretical accounts regarding vocabulary acquisition and retention.
- Synthesis of findings related to word frequency and age of acquisition in anomia.
Main Results:
- Evidence supports Marshall's (1977) hypothesis that impaired access to lower-frequency words contributes to anomia.
- Age of acquisition significantly influences word retrieval difficulties in anomic patients, particularly for later-acquired vocabulary.
- Both word frequency and age of acquisition appear to be critical factors in word accessibility for many patients.
Conclusions:
- Anomia likely involves a combination of factors, including word frequency and age of acquisition.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective therapeutic interventions for word-finding deficits.
- Further theoretical exploration is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying age of acquisition effects on adult language processing and recovery.
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