Aphasia: A Divergent Semantic Interpretation

Abstract

The present paper reinterprets aphasia relative to the divergent and convergent components of Guilford's model of behavior. It suggests that some aphasiologists have defined aphasia as a convergent semantic disorder. They have determined the presence or absence of an aphasic impairment on the basis of each individual's ability to recognize and reproduce previously learned material and to converge upon one correct answer. The present analysis also shows that there are a number of theoretical models of aphasia which indicate that aphasia involves more than a convergent semantic impairment. Aphasia, interpreted according to Guilford's model, appears to have a divergent component. Aphasia involves a decrease in an individual's ablilty to provide ideas in situations where a proliferation of ideas on some topic is required, or to extend the boundaries of what he already knows. The individual who is impaired in his ability to produce a number of relevant ideas and a variety of different kinds or categories of responses has a divergent semantic impairment.

Verbal fluency in Alzheimer's disease and Aphasia

“…On the other hand, aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that impairs a person's ability to process language, but does not affect intelligence. Several studies have suggested that aphasia produces a disorganization of semantic fields or, lexico-semantic problems in general (Chapey, Rigrodsky, & Morrison, 1977; Gainotti, Silveri, Villa, & Miceli, 1986; Goodglass, Klein, Carey, & Jones, 1966; Hough, 1993; Lhermitte, Derouesne, & Leccours, 1971; Yamadori & Albert, 1973). The verbal production of aphasic subjects may include words which have remote connections with a target word – phonemic errors, e.g., fable for table, or semantic errors, e.g., table for chair – or no connection whatsoever.…”

Toward an Integrative Information-Processing Structure of Auditory Comprehension and Processing in Adult Aphasia

“…Darley (1982) recommended using stimuli with high powers of arousal to overcome these attentional deficits. Chapey (1981) suggested reinforcing attending behaviors. Others (Mysak and Guarino, 1981;Davis, 1983) have discussed potential deficits in the activation phase of communication.…”

Beyond Standardized Measures: Special Tests, Language in Context, and Discourse Analysis in Aphasia

“…Word fluency measures also constitute one form of divergent language testing. Chapey (1981) describes divergent language production as the generation of a flow of ideas and logical alternatives on some topic. She notes that disrupted divergent processing is a component of aphasic language impairment.…”