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[P1–313]: SEMANTIC VERSUS PHONEMIC FLUENCY IN PATIENTS WITH POSTERIOR CORTICAL ATROPHY
Author(s) -
Scuse Jennifer C.,
Drubach Dina I.,
JacobsonButrum Kelly,
Drubach Daniel A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2017.06.329
Subject(s) - verbal fluency test , fluency , categorization , psychology , cognitive psychology , mental image , audiology , cognition , medicine , neuropsychology , artificial intelligence , computer science , psychiatry , mathematics education
Background: It was shown in our previous research that individuals with PCA have challenges with internal visual imagery. (AAIC 2015 & 2016) It has also been demonstrated that mental imagery facilitates the ability to categorize objects (Wu, Duan, Tian, Wang, & Zhang, 2012). Because categorization requires mental imagery, and individuals with PCA have decreased visual imagery, we propose that individuals with PCAwill show decreased scores on a category based semantic fluency test as compared to their scores on a verbal fluency test which does not require this inner visualization. We also propose that individuals with Alzheimer’s disease will not show this discrepancy between semantic and verbal fluency scores as their internal visual imagery is not targeted by their disease allowing them to carry out semantic and verbal fluency tasks equally. Methods: Researchers will access the records of individuals who have been diagnosed with PCA and those with Alzheimer’s disease from IRB 15-000502 and compare their verbal fluency score to their semantic fluency scores. The differences in the fluency scores will then be compared to see if those with PCA show a greater decrease in their semantic fluency scores than their verbal fluency scores when compared to those with Alzheimer’s disease. Results: A pilot study was completed with 10 participants with PCA, their average semantic fluency scaled score for was 5.9, average verbal fluency scaled score 9.5. A scaled score of 9.5 places the verbal fluency scores within the average range and a scaled score of 5.9 places the semantic fluency scores in the borderline range. This discrepancy in scores shows promise in supporting our hypothesis. This data reflects only our pilot study of 10 participants, the bulk of our data is in the process of being analyzed and final semantic and verbal fluency results will be released at the conference. Conclusions:Differences in performance on semantic fluency versus verbal fluency tasks in patients with PCA may be a further indication that intrinsic visualization may be impaired. This could have some impact on a patient’s functional status and may be important in planning rehabilitation strategies in this population.