Publications
Publication details [#8641]
Papagno, Costanza and Giuseppe Vallar. 2001. Understanding metaphors and idioms: A single-case neuropsychological study in a person with Down syndrome. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society 7 (04) : 516–527. 12 pp.
Publication type
Article in journal
Publication language
English
Keywords
Abstract
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.
(Costanza Papagno and Giuseppe Vallar)