Working memory and discourse production in people with aphasia

This study explored the relationship between Working Memory (WM) and discourse production in people with aphasia, based on data from the AphasiaBank. The dataset comprised the children's story “Cinderella” and basic WM measures of span, collected from 45 participants (15 people with nonfluent Broca's aphasia, 15 people with anomic aphasia, 15 people with fluent Wernicke's aphasia). Discourse samples were coded for and analyzed in terms of content, micro- (words and sentences) and macro- (groups of sentences) linguistic components, known to demonstrate multi-level discourse ability. Comparisons were made among the different participant groups to identify differences and/or commonalities in performance. Results showed that WM, as measured by reduced word and sentential span, influences macrolinguistic narrative components and may be sensitive to aphasia type. Findings were interpreted in terms of a potential deficit to Baddeley's episodic buffer, affecting sequential and hierarchical narrative information processing.