Declining object recognition performance in Semantic Dementia - a case for stored visual object representations

TREE, Jeremy J. and PLAYFOOT, David (2015). Declining object recognition performance in Semantic Dementia - a case for stored visual object representations. Cognitive Neuropsychology, 32 (7 - 8), 412-426.

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Abstract

The role of the semantic system in recognising objects is a matter of debate. Connectionist theories argue that it is impossible for a participant to determine that an object is familiar to them without recourse to a semantic hub; localist theories state that accessing a stored representation of the visual features of the object is sufficient for recognition. We examine this issue through the longitudinal study of two cases of Semantic Dementia, a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by a progressive degradation of the semantic system. The cases in this paper do not conform to the "common" pattern of object recognition performance in Semantic Dementia described by Rogers et al (2004b), and show no systematic relationship between severity of semantic impairment and success in object decision. We argue that this data is inconsistent with the connectionist position but can be easily reconciled with localist theories that propose stored structural descriptions of objects outside of the semantic system.

Item Type:	Article
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018:	Psychology Research Group
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1080/02643294.2016.1164679
Page Range:	412-426
Depositing User:	David Playfoot
Date Deposited:	22 Mar 2016 13:59
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2021 04:54
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/11762

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