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Using Pupillometry to Index Cognitive Effort in Sentence Processing in People With and Without Aphasia

Chapman, Laura R., Chapman
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1518793884170866

Abstract Details

2018, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Speech-Language Science (Health Sciences and Professions).
Purpose: Cognitive effort, an intensity aspect of processing, is often overlooked in language assessments, despite potential theoretical and clinical implications for understanding the nature of language processing in individuals with and without aphasia. Task-evoked responses of the pupil (TERPs) are psychophysiological indicators of cognitive effort: greater effort results in larger TERPs. Until our recent work (Chapman & Hallowell, 2015a), no one had studied language processing in people with aphasia (PWA) using pupillometry. The purpose of this study was to further develop and validate a pupillometric method for studying cognitive effort in sentence processing. Method: This study involved two experiments. Results from Experiment 1 were used to determine whether an overt comprehension task (e.g., the inclusion of question trials) was included in Experiment 2. Pupillary responses of 40 individuals without aphasia were monitored while they listened to easy (canonical) and difficult (noncanonical) sentences in two conditions, one of which contained occasional comprehension questions, and one that did not. In Experiment 2, pupillary responses of 50 control participants and 19 PWA were monitored as they listened to the same group of sentences, with or without comprehension questions (as determined by results from Experiment 1). Results: In Experiment 1, difficult sentences elicited greater TERPs in the question condition only; thus, comprehension questions were included in Experiment 2. In Experiment 2, control participants consistently exhibited larger TERPs for difficult sentences, whereas PWA did not. Conclusion: Results indicate important group differences in the allocation of effort between people with and without aphasia, particularly when processing difficult sentences. A greater understanding of the underlying nature of aphasia has implications for the development of more specific and targeted assessment and treatment options for this population.
Brooke Hallowell (Advisor)
210 p.
Language; Speech Therapy
pupillometry; cognitive effort; sentence processing; syntax; aphasia; language disorders in adults; language processing

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Chapman, Chapman, L. R. (2018). Using Pupillometry to Index Cognitive Effort in Sentence Processing in People With and Without Aphasia [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1518793884170866

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Chapman, Chapman, Laura. Using Pupillometry to Index Cognitive Effort in Sentence Processing in People With and Without Aphasia. 2018. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1518793884170866.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Chapman, Chapman, Laura. "Using Pupillometry to Index Cognitive Effort in Sentence Processing in People With and Without Aphasia." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1518793884170866

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1518793884170866
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.