OPTIC APHASIA - A CASE WITH SPARED ACTION NAMING AND ASSOCIATED DISORDERS

AG, a pure case of optic anemia (object naming impaired; action naming good) is described. We consider the fit of experimental data from AG to different theoretical accounts of optic aphasia. Overall, we find n o evidence for impairments intrinsic to semantic representations, but we note a number of problems that we interpret as indicating a slight, and specific, weakness in semantic access from vision. We also note a mild problem in generating names to a cue (verbal fluency). The main aim of the report was to provide a full description of tests of visual , semantic, and speech output skills in this patient in relation to th e processing of visually presented objects and scenes, within a sequen tial information processing account which enables some theoretical imp lications to be drawn, albeit not conclusively. (C) 1996 Academic Pres s, Inc.