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A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of - Queen Margaret University

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6.3.2 Biological limitations<br />

The literature review discussed the methodological difficulty <strong>in</strong> evaluat<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

impact <strong>of</strong> the biological factors <strong>in</strong>dependently. The relationship between the<br />

magnitude and location <strong>of</strong> bra<strong>in</strong> lesions is complex and appears to be <strong>in</strong>terl<strong>in</strong>ked<br />

with the <strong>in</strong>itial severity <strong>of</strong> functional deficit experienced (which <strong>in</strong> this case is<br />

aphasia) (see section 2.6.2). The provision <strong>of</strong> bra<strong>in</strong>-imag<strong>in</strong>g data <strong>of</strong> participants<br />

prior to and follow<strong>in</strong>g the tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> new vocabulary could <strong>in</strong>form as to the<br />

impact <strong>of</strong> size and/ or site <strong>of</strong> cortical damage <strong>in</strong> new vocabulary learn<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

related cortical plasticity. The prognostic <strong>in</strong>fluence <strong>of</strong> stroke aetiology has not<br />

been thoroughly researched, specifically the issue <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>farct versus<br />

haemorrhage, and early results were conflict<strong>in</strong>g (Basso, 1992). Four <strong>of</strong> the<br />

participants with aphasia <strong>in</strong> the ma<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>vestigation had a history <strong>of</strong> multiple<br />

strokes – C3, C6, C10 and C11. As observed (see section 5.3), despite<br />

experienc<strong>in</strong>g multiple strokes, C3 and C6 were ranked fourth and seventh<br />

respectively <strong>in</strong> their ability to learn the new vocabulary and both reta<strong>in</strong>ed 80% <strong>of</strong><br />

this <strong>in</strong>formation <strong>in</strong> delayed recall tasks. However C10 and C11 learned the least<br />

amount <strong>of</strong> new vocabulary and also experienced haemorrhagic <strong>in</strong> addition to<br />

multiple strokes – a comb<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> which may have affected their performance.<br />

Due to sample size and the absence <strong>of</strong> bra<strong>in</strong>-imag<strong>in</strong>g data it would not be<br />

prudent to speculate about either the effects <strong>of</strong> the type <strong>of</strong> stroke (i.e. <strong>in</strong>farct<br />

versus haemorrhage) or the number <strong>of</strong> strokes on the successful ability to learn<br />

new vocabulary. It would be <strong>in</strong>formative <strong>in</strong> future research to ascerta<strong>in</strong> the<br />

impact <strong>of</strong> aetiology, site and extent <strong>of</strong> bra<strong>in</strong> damage on the ability to learn new<br />

vocabulary and related cortical plasticity.<br />

6.3.3 Cognitive abilities and the capacity to learn<br />

The difficulty <strong>in</strong> measur<strong>in</strong>g cognitive function<strong>in</strong>g has been acknowledged,<br />

particularly follow<strong>in</strong>g a stroke, with many assessments considered as unsuitable<br />

for people with aphasia (particularly those requir<strong>in</strong>g spoken and/ or written<br />

responses) (Starr et al., 2000). However the Cognitive L<strong>in</strong>guistic Quick Test<br />

249

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