Representations of ‘verbs’ in a computerized visual communication system

Abstract versus concrete representations for verbs in a visual, non-verbal communication system for severe aphasics were investigated. Two patients with comparable agrammatic aphasias were studied in paired counter-balanced experiments. Concrete symbols were learned more quickly and generalized slightly faster to apply to new objects. However, neither abstract nor concrete symbols were generalized very well to novel situations. The implications for the organization of semantic information in aphasic patients and for future research on visual communication systems are discussed.

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