Working Memory and Aphasia

Abstract

Aphasia is traditionally considered to be an acquired language impairment, due to a focal (usually left-lateralized) brain lesion. However, during the last decades, there has been mounting evidence that aphasic patients also demonstrate non-linguistic processing deficits. This paper is focused on the relationship between language and memory deficits. Throughout the history of aphasiology, many scholars have corroborated the idea that there is a strong link between these two fundamental aspects of cognition. Contemporary research further supports this notion, by presenting evidence derived from lesion studies and brain imaging in healthy participants as well. In this context, aphasia is defined as a cognitive disorder with prominent linguistic deficits, rather than a specific language disturbance.