Lexical Semantic Memory and Confrontation Naming in Aphasic Patients

The present study examined (1) the relation between semantic processing and confrontation naming abilities in aphasic patients, and (2) the possibility of the existence of separate semantic organizations for different stimulus modes. Semantic processing ability of the patients was investigated using similarity judgements of body parts represented by line drawings and kanji. One hundred line drawings were used for assessing confrontation naming ability. Both semantic processing and confrontation naming were studied on a single subject basis. The results showed that semantic processing and naming abilities were dissociated, indicating that these processes can be independently impaired. The underlying mechanism for the dissociation was discussed. Some patients showed better semantic judgment in the line drawings than in kanji but the reverse pattern was not observed. We interpreted this differential performance not as evidence supporting the existence of separate semantic organizations for line drawing and kanji but as an indication of the relative complexity of kanji processing.