The relation between integration, sequence of information, short-term memory, and Token Test performance of aphasic subjects

Abstract

Fifty-two aphasic patients were tested with a modification of part II of the Token Test. Three experimental variables were investigated: (a) the temporal sequence of information in the instructions, comparing instructions with preposition versus the ordinary postposition of noun; (b) the spatial organization of the target objects, comparing an organization with color as the primary organizational factor to the ordinary organization primarily based on form: and (c) the specific timing of the presentation of instructions and tokens, comparing a successive presentation of instructions and tokens to the ordinary simultaneus presentation. Neither token organization nor instruction timing affected test performance. Sequence of information was important, however, and it is suggested that the effect can be explained by better opportunities for integration for preposition versus postposition instructions. The patients were also tested with several memory-span tests, and these results are related to those from the modified Token Test.