6533b7d6fe1ef96bd12665ea
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Understanding metaphors and idioms: A single-case neuropsychological study in a person with Down syndrome
Giuseppe VallarCostanza Papagnosubject
AdultVocabularyMetaphormedia_common.quotation_subjectNeuropsychological TestsSeverity of Illness IndexLiteral and figurative languageSpeech DisordersPerceptual DisordersPhoneticsHumansmedia_commonCognitive scienceLanguage DisordersVerbal BehaviorWorking memoryGeneral NeuroscienceNeuropsychologyPhonologyExecutive functionsSyntaxPsychiatry and Mental healthClinical PsychologySpace PerceptionMetaphorVisual PerceptionFemaleNeurology (clinical)Down SyndromeCognition DisordersPsychologyCognitive psychologydescription
The ability of subject F.F., diagnosed with Down syndrome, to appreciate nonliteral (interpreting metaphors and idioms) and literal (vocabulary knowledge, including highly specific and unusual items) aspects of language was investigated. F.F. was impaired in understanding both metaphors and idioms, while her phonological, syntactic and lexical–semantic skills were largely preserved. By contrast, some aspects of F.F.'s executive functions and many visuospatial abilities were defective. The suggestion is made that the interpretation of metaphors and idioms is largely independent of that of literal language, preserved in F.F., and that some executive aspects of working memory and visuospatial and imagery processes may play a role. (JINS, 2001, 7, 516–527.)
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-05-01 | Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society |