Chapter 7 - Studies of Cognitive Processes

Question 1

List and explain the characteristics of Broca’s aphasia.

Answer 1

• Speech is non-fluent (speech involves great effort and is laboured).
• Anomia.
• Agrammatism (speech tends to contain nouns and verbs but lack words that give grammar).
• Articulation difficulties and words may be mispronounced.
• Difficulty with writing.
• May be mild comprehension difficulties.

Question 2

List and explain the characteristics of Wernicke’s aphasia.

Answer 2

• Speech is fluent but doesn’t make sense.
• Anomia.
• Nonsense words are used (sentences may seem grammatical, but the person may use meaningless words).
• Difficulty understanding both written and spoken language.
• Difficulty producing both written and spoken language that make sense to others.

Question 3

List limitations on generalising the findings of aphasia studies.

Answer 3

• Broca’s and Wernicke’s area vary in location between different people.
• Extent of the effects of aphasia on language vary in different people.

Question 4

Who pioneered research on split-brain patients?

Answer 4

Roger Sperry.