Recognition of word associates in semantic paralexia

This study examines the processing of word associates by a patient who makes semantic paralexic responses ir oral reading. His ability to extract semantic features from printed words was assessed using a task which involved the recognition of specific associates of printed words. He could recognize as many associate words as normal control patients, but was more likely to make a positive response to stimulus words unrelated to the target item. There was also a tendency to more readily accept same-category associates as being related to target words. It is suggested that semantic paralexic patients sometimes make inadequate 'checks' on related words which are activated when printed words are perceived, and possible retraining procedures are suggested which may improve their checking strategies.